- High Definition TV (HDTV)

Digital technology has changed virtually all areas of our daily lives. From the way we communicate with each other, to how we do business, shop, listen to music and play games; all our routine activities, even extending to how we pay our bills and taxes have been digitized! So it's hardly surprising that digital television has now come into our homes.Digital TV (DTV) delivers a picture that is clear and sharp, without the many reception problems associated with analog TV. Going beyond DTV, High-Definition- Television offers us the absolute in both visual and audio quality. The enhanced viewing experience of HDTV is unquestionably superior to anything previously known. Yet we are now, only in the early stage of the transition from NTSC-analog television to digital, HDTV.

But with all the benefits we derive from this new, digital society, another layer of complexity is added to our lives. Shopping for a new (digital) TV is no longer just a simple trip to your local Electronics-Super-Store (ESS). For non-tech consumers, it means confronting yet another list of 'tech-speak,' to absorb. To make matters worse, consumers must deal with a confusing morass of 'mis/dis-information' that surrounds digital, High-Definition-Television.

Starting with simple TV, we have evolved to: 'DTV' - 'SDTV' - 'ATV' - 'HDTV.' Today's consumer must deal with numerous new words and concepts: "aspect-ratio," "resolution," "pixelization" - just a partial list of what you will encounter when shopping for a new High-Definition Television. How does digital television (DTV) differ from the traditional, analog TV, with which we all grew up? Most of us have never questioned the technology hidden behind the TV picture tube; nor given any thought to how our favorite TV programs show up in our living rooms. Without getting into a lot of "hi-tech-stuff," (at least we'll try not to) let's start by looking at the TV set we've all been familiar with for the past 50+ years. The standard-analog or NTSC-TV, (National Television Standards Committee) transmits only the video and audio signal. A major problem with analog signals is that between the transmitter and your TV set many things can interfere, thus distorting the picture you see. From a plane flying far overhead, to hilly terrain, tall buildings and even atmospheric conditions, all are obstacles that can interrupt the signal. Also, the strength of the analog signal is critical; a weaker signal can cause "snowy" and distorted pictures - something with which those of us who remember "pre-cable" are too familiar.