Tag: high pixel density displays

Article

ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters – Engadget

My comments

We are starting to see the arrival of ultra-high-definition video displays being available for general-purpose computing requirements. This yields cinema-quality vision experience as if normally seen directly by the eye.

But the concept has existed in a general form where a well-bred current-generation digital still camera is able to take an image with that resolution. As well, some screens used in particular industries like medical imaging are implementing this kind of pixel-dense display. Similarly, some video setups like the recent practice of exhibiting performances of opera or classic plays in the cinema through the use of video links use the ultra-high-definition setups.

The technology is also being assisted through the availability of pixel-dense display technology in computer devices. Examples of this include Apple’s “Retina” technology used in the latest iPhone and iPad devices and starting to appear across some of Apple’s 13” MacBook computers. This could be implemented in larger display areas like flatscreen TVs and desktop monitors.

Here, a particular resolution and aspect ratio needs to be called for both the 4K and 8K displays. This may be a point to bring in the 21:9 display ratio used for cinema applications; and could help with providing an improved video experience for the films that were used to showcase Cinemascope or Panavision.

But after 1080p (1920×1080) was called as a standard for HDTV displays, which has allowed a point of reference to be used for this application; there needs to be a standard for this kind of ultra-high-definition display. This can allow the displays to be marketed properly such as with a standard logo that applies to equipment that meets one or more of the criteria.

This may also affect how visual layouts are worked on so we can think more of display physical sizes and application classes rather than particular resolutions. It will also mean the use of vector-based user-interface displays or graphics assets that suit particular display densitys as what is being put forward for Windows 8 software design.

Article

Beware the allure of Apple’s Retina displays | Apple – CNET News

My Comments

Those of you who have heard a lot about Apple’s latest iPhones and other devices will know about them being equipped with the “Retina” display. This is primarily Apple’s take on a high-pixel-density display, and this will become an increasing trend over the next few years for most computing environments.

What is the high-pixel-density dsiplay

These are displays that have a pixel-density of at least 200-250 pixels per inch and are represented by devices like the 3rd generation Apple iPad, tie Apple iPhone 4S or the Sony PlayStation Vita. This is compared to most desktop and notebook computers offering a pixel density of 120-150 pixels per inch.

The main benefit is to see an image on the display that looks like what you would normally see with the naked eye. For text, this would appear as though you are reading a regular book; and would come in to being with e-book applications but can also apply to regular word-processing or similar work.

Similarly photos and computer graphics would acquire the smoothness of a photo that was taken using ordinary film or an painting that was painted by an artist.

Requirements

As well as the display surface having this kind of resolution and the display subsystem being able to show images to this resolution, the operating system would have to paint the user interface at a regular viewable pitch. This is no mean feat with the current desktop and mobile operating systems like Apple’s desktop and mobile operating systems, Windows 7 and the Android mobile operating system.

This has been aided through the use of vector images for the text and shapes that form the user interface and the ability to determine certain viewable pitch. It then allows for these features to be rendered at a more natural look that takes advantage of this higher pixel-density.

Current obstacles

At the moment, the high-pixel-density display will be limited to smartphone, tablet and laptop applications up to 16”. This is until LCD and OLED display fabricators can supply display subsystems with these pixel densities at a cost that allows the construction of larger displays at prices that are tolerable to the mainstream computing market.

Conclusion

What I would observe is that the Windows 8 platform would increasingly, with the increasingly powerful display subsystems. make the idea of the high pixel-density display common for most Windows-based regular computing platforms rather than just the Apple platforms. This same idea could be taken further with the next or subsequent generation of mobile and dedicated-purpose computing devices.