The High Definition Era: From Secam to Ultra HD

1. The Beginnings of High Definition

The First Steps of HD

• Introduction of Secam in France in 1967 with a definition of 625 pixel lines.
• Pioneering research in Japan since 1964, laying the foundations for Ultra High Definition (UHD).

Towards a New Era: The D2-Mac

French attempt towards HD in 1984 with the D2-Mac, not surpassing the Secam.

2. HD Display Methods

Interlaced vs. Progressive

• Use of interlaced scanning in CRT televisions and progressive in LCD and LED screens.
• Adoption of 1080i and 720p standards by ITU and SMPTE.

HD in Contemporary Devices

• HD Ready televisions requiring panels with a minimum of 720 pixel lines.
• Improved HD images thanks to OLED and LCD LED technologies.

Camcorders and Computers

Launch of the HDV format in 2003 by Sony, Canon and JVC. Compatibility of computer screens with HD, in particular the 720p format.

3. HD in the Current Context

HD Television in France

• Experimental broadcast in HD by the Belgian channel Euro 1080/HD-1 since 2004.
• Anticipation of a wider diffusion of HD with the 2006 Football World Cup.

UHD and OLED TVs

• Increase in demand for UHD and OLED TVs.
• Appearance of Smart TVs with advanced features such as HDR and Dolby Atmos.

Choosing an HD TV

• Criteria including screen size, resolution (HD, Full HD, 4K UHD) and features (Smart TV, HDR).
• Prevalence of connected TVs offering streaming options via Netflix and other VOD services.

Technologies and Connectivity

• HDMI as standard connector for HD and UHD TVs.
• Android TV and other operating systems improve the interactivity of Smart TVs.
• Recent models equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Chromecast compatible for expanded connectivity.

Technological Advances in Display

• OLED and LED TVs offer better contrast, more fluidity and superior picture quality.
• Importance of pixel count, brightness and contrast ratio for optimal HD image quality.
• IPS technology for improved viewing angles on LCD screens.

4. The Impact of New Technologies

• OLED, LED and LCD TVs offer sharper HD and UHD images.
• Smart TVs make it easy to access HD and UHD content via high-speed internet connections.
• The use of advanced processors in televisions to improve picture quality and smooth motion.

5. Conclusion: The Bright Future of HD

HD technology continues to evolve, offering an ever more immersive viewing experience. Consumers now have a wide range of choices to fully enjoy HD content, whether through televisions, camcorders or computing devices.