TMCnet High Definition Digital Week in Review

Why has there been such a surge in high definition digital technology recently? And what verticals are the latest to adopt this rapidly growing technology?

This week, TMCnet sat down with high definition digital provider Avocent, an Emerson (News - Alert) Network Power division, to find out where the industry is headed.

“There are several reasons to explain the steep trajectory behind high definition adoption,” Jason Holschen, director of product management at Avocent told TMCnet. “First, the cost of technology has dropped tremendously over the last four years which provides access to high definition video to the average consumer.”

Specifically, devices such as LCD and LED TVs and Blu-Ray players are being offered more competitively than ever before. Moreover, access to high-speed broadband connections has eliminated barriers to high definition video, bringing it to desktop computers and televisions. 

Here is an excerpt from the conversation:

TMCnet: What are the main benefits of high definition digital?

Holschen: Resolution is the main reason why HD looks so much better than SD video. The leap from SD video to HD video is very large, so much so that additional factors that improve on picture quality serve only as incremental changes.  The primary benefit between HD and higher resolution HD comes from increased pixel count.  From a broadcast or post production viewpoint, higher resolution HD allows for more of the story to be told without the hindrance of technical limitations, thereby providing an uncompromised end user experience.  HD content that is created and distributed in a complete digital workflow preserves a level of quality that was not previously possible.

To read the whole interview, click here.

In other high definition digital news, one trend that is spiking exponentially is the sale of 3D TVs. According to a report from market analyst firm DisplaySearch, shipments of 3D LCD TV panels increased 124 percent in the second quarter of 2011.

Out of the 5.2 million units that were shipped in the second quarter, 4.9 million units were earmarked for LCD televisions. In other words, 3D penetration in LCD TVs increased 9.3 percent in the second quarter from 4.5 percent in Q1.

"The LCD TV panel industry has been in oversupply for more than a year, and panel makers are motivated to develop new features like LED and 3D to increase value. Although there are still doubts about whether the market is ready for 3D, 3D penetration is increasing due to falling prices and the ability to produce panels," noted David Hsieh (News - Alert), vice president, Greater China Market, DisplaySearch.

In addition to increased 3D TV sales, 3D monitor panel shipments are also growing rapidly as less than 80,000 units were sold in quarter one of 2011 and more than 250,000 were sold in quarter two of 2011. This is largely due to the adoption in gaming and other special application monitors.

Also this week, DTS (News - Alert), a provider of high-definition audio technologies, announced that its new LG Optimus 3D (LG-P920) will feature the DTS high-performance technology to allow users to enjoy an immersive audio experience that complements the smartphone’s visual display.

The LG Optimus 3D (LG-P920) was designed to meet consumer desire for devices that bring home theatre sounds to their personal platforms. DTS is collaborating with industry majors to help customers enjoy high-quality audio wherever they are, with a more dramatic and immersive sound tailored for consumers on-the-go, according to company officials.

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