Everyone, it seems, is going crazy for high definition video. However, with all of this hype about HD videos and how much better they supposedly are at providing clarity and a superior viewing experience, many consumers are still left scratching their heads and wondering what, exactly, high definition video is all about.
The Three Characteristics of High Definition
High definition video may seem a little bit confusing, but that may be because some retailers are marketing products as high definition video products that actually have nothing to do with HD videos. The truth about high definition is actually very simple to understand. To qualify as a high definition video, the picture must meet three basic characteristics. The first characteristic is the number of lines that make up the overall picture. These lines are imperceptible to the human eye, but when several of the lines are placed on top of one another they form an image. The more lines that are in the image, the higher quality the picture will be. In standard television, the number of lines that are used in a display is about 480. However, in high definition video, screens can have over a thousand unique lines that make the picture much clearer. The second characteristic of high definition videos is the rate of the scanning system. A screen’s scanning system is the process by which the image is changed rapidly to produce new images. Some high definition videos use interlaced scanning where every other line in the picture is changed alternately. The third characteristic of high definition video is the number of frames that are viewed per second during the video. Most high definition videos show about sixty frames per second. If all of these attributes are present, the video or video display can be considered a high definition video or high definition video player.
HD Videos on Television
There is a large amount of confusing regarding high definition channels on cable and satellite television networks. Many people who do not have a high definition television are accessing these HD programs and believe that they are viewing high definition television. They are not. To view high definition television you need to have both a high definition video cable box and an HDMI cable. This cable allows the cable box to transmit the higher resolutions of HD videos to your television. Similarly, some people are purchasing high definition television sets and viewing regularly broadcast programs believing them to magically be in HD. This is also not true. High definition cannot be created by the television set. Instead, high definition videos must be broadcast. A video is considered to be in high definition based on the equipment with which it was shot, not the monitor on which it is displayed. This is a very common mistake, and some consumers are being taken advantage of when retail salesmen sell them high definition televisions that they won’t be able to adequately use.
High Definition Laptops and Cameras
High definition video is being used by consumers in more areas than just television and movie viewing. Today, several other pieces of technological equipment are being marketed as high definition video products. One of the most popular high def products is an HD video camera. These cameras are home use video cameras that are actually capable of shooting video in high definition. This is a very popular camera choice as the image quality produced by this equipment is much greater than previous camera models. Another popular high definition video product is HD laptops and desktop computers. Laptop and desktops with HD screens often include their own HDMI cables and can be used as high definition video players. These laptop computers can be connected to a high definition television in order to view high definition videos, movies or television programs.
Streaming High Definition Video
Every day, more and more websites begin streaming high definition video as an option for their customers. High definition video is getting more and more popular on websites such as Hulu and YouTube. The benefits of streaming video in a high definition format include better picture quality and faster download times. While the truth about HD videos is sometimes convoluted by individuals who have mistaken assumptions about what constitutes high definition video, understanding this new technology is relatively simple and can greatly improve your video viewing experience.