From X-bit Labs: Ultra-high-definition (UHD) televisions with 4K (3840*2160) resolution are several years before adoption by the mainstream market. However, consumer electronics companies are already showcasing TVs with 8K (7680*4320) panels that are expected to make their debut only sometimes in 2016 in Japan and later in the rest of the world.
At the Consumer Electronics Show this week several companies, including Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Philips and Dolby showcased their 8K televisions to the general public, according to a report by DailyStar news-paper. While Sharp has been showcasing its 8K prototypes for a couple of years now to make evident advantages of its IGZO technology, the demonstration by Samsung was rather unexpected.
Sharp, Philips and Dolby showcased their jointly developed IGZO panel-based 85” UHDTV with Dolby’s glasses-free stereo-3D technology. Samsung revealed a prototype of a 98” television. Neither prototype is going to make it to the market.
To exhibit presently unbelievable level of details provided by 7680*4320 ultra-high-definition resolution, Samsung demonstrated a footage showing a cross section of four levels of a large mall and gave attendees an ability to have a thorough look at every person or store that appear on the video, reports Gizmodo web-site.
There are two reasons why prototype 8K TVs are demonstrated today: firstly, companies want to attract attention to their brands by impressing end-users; secondly, the 8K technology is not that far from commercialization and it makes sense to start promoting it.
Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK, Nippon Hoso Kyokai) began developing super hi-vision (SHV) technology (which is now called 8K) in 1995. The 8K DCI format has resolution of 7680*4320 pixels – four times the resolution of 4K and 16 times that of current HD – as well as 22.2-channel audio. The annual R&D budget of NHK is around $77 million. Having spent well-over a billion of dollars on R&D since 1995, NHK has developed plethora of technologies not only for 8K/SHV, but also for other applications. Various equipment needed for production, broadcasting and showcasing of video in 8K UHD format has been designed in partnership with Japanese leading manufacturers of electronics, including Fujitsu, JVC, Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Sharp.
The first public screenings of 8K video technology were held at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Beauties À La Carte, a 27-minute comedy directed by Toshio Lee (known for Detroit Metal City), was shown on a 220” screen to demonstrate benefits of 8K/SHV (7680*4320).
View: Article @ Source Site
