Gizmodo: super hi-vision

NHK Projector Features Insane 7680 x 4320 (8K) Resolution

Sean Fallon — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:55:00 EDT

Japanese TV broadcaster NHK has demonstrated Super Hi-Vision, their whopping 32 megapixel, 8K (7680 x 4320) ultra-high definition projector technology using two LCoS projectors with a combined 8,000 lumens brightness and a towering 6.6m x 3.7m 300-inch projection screen. For those of you who are counting, that absolutely obliterates the 4K (3840 x 2,160) full-HD standard. They have even developed a matching 8K studio camera. Once again this raises the question: is there such a thing as too much HD? [CNET]

Super Hi-Vision Gets 33-Megapixel Sensor for Full-Color Video

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Remember NHK's Super Hi-Vision, the 7680x4320 format that looks so good viewers throw up? The research group finally prototyped up a 33-megapixel video sensor that could take in the whole picture at once.

Before, according to IDG, they were using four 8.3 megapixel sensors—two for green and one each for red and blue. But that data only yielded only a black-and-white image at full resolution. Now they can shoot in full color and reproduce the picture in color too.

Needless to say, a special lens was required, as was a new cable system: instead of 16 separate coax cables, they've narrowed it down to a "single" 12-core line. One step closer to that TV wall in Total Recall, baby. [IDG]

JVC Makes First Super Hi-Vision Display, 16 Times Full HD Resolution

Kit Eaton — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:22:16 EDT

JVC's new Direct-Drive Image Light Amplifier for projectors has a staggering 8192 x 4320 resolution—that's 35 megapixels, or around 16 times more than full HD. In fact, JVC is saying the little single-device reflective liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) imager has the highest resolution in the world, and the first to enable projectors to produce "Super Hi-Vision" images. The technology behind it has been worked on since 2003, refining the pixel count and contrast upwards with each generation. Last year JVC made a 1.27-inch 4096 x 2400 version, which went on sale in a projector in February 2008. So does this mean we'll see the new 1.75-inch, 20,000:1 version in projectors soon? Very likely, but we expect you'll find it in professional projector gear, rather than for your home. [Akihabaranews]

Next-Gen HDTV is So Clear It'll Make You Throw Up; I See No Problems With This

Adam Frucci — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:04:51 EST

You may recall that last May I told you about Super Hi-Vision, the next-generation in high def that promises an insane resolution of 7680x4320, or 16 times the resolution of HDTV. It turns out that it much be a little too high-def; it's so realistic it might just make you sick.

Yes, fast moving images at that resolution will probably cause motion sickness according to the eggheads at Japan's NHK who are developing the technology. Adding to the practical issues the format will face is that there's no real way to cram that many lines of resolution into a display any smaller than 60 inches, and even if you could cram them into a smaller screen there'd be no point to it. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyways at that point.

Despite the fact that the format isn't expected to be broadcast until 2025, NHK has built what's probably the sweetest home theatre setup in the world to play around with it: a 500 inch Super Hi-Vision screen hooked up to the world's only 22.2 multi-channel surround sound system. Take that, Panasonic. [BBC]

Super Hi-Vision Makes Your HDTV Obsolete Already

Adam Frucci — Tue, 29 May 2007 09:26:51 EDT

You think your HDTV is impressive? Your HDTV sucks. Sorry, I don't mean to be a jerk, but it's no longer cutting edge. 1920x1080? Please. Japanese broadcaster NHK has come up with what they call Super Hi-Vision, and it puts HD to shame with an insane resolution of 7680x4320. Yeah, that's the equivalent of 16 HDTVs crammed into one. Like I said, your HDTV sucks.

That's not all: The viewing distance can be four times as close as HDTV (.75 times the screen height versus 3 times the screen height for HDTV). Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending), you won't need to toss your HDTV for a SHV set anytime soon. That humungous resolution requires an insane 24Gbps stream for broadcast, which is nowhere near what we're currently capable of. Furthermore, they just developed the first sensor for cameras so they can actually, you know, shoot video at that resolution, but there's still a lot of work to be done. Seeing that NHK are the dudes who developed HDTV in 1969, it might be a while before these things start ending up in living rooms. –Adam Frucci

PC World [via Digital World Tokyo]