Analog TV: Analog technology has been in use for the past 50 years to transmit conventional TV signals to consumers. Most current television transmissions are received through analog television sets. Analog signals vary continuously, creating fluctuations in color and brightness
Back to Definitions

Aspect Ratio: A numerical expression of the relationship of width to height of a TV screen. 4:3: This numerical sequence refers to the aspect ratio of the National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) TV screen, with "4" unit width corresponding to "3" unit height, proportionally, regardless of the actual size of the screen. 16:9: This numerical sequence refers to the aspect ratio of wide screen DTV formats for all HDTV and some SDTV (Standard Definition) video. A "16" unit width corresponds to "9" unit height proportionally, regardless of the actual size of the screen. The widescreen 16:9 numerical sequence provides a viewing experience very similar to that of 35 mm movies.
Back to Definitions

ATSC: An acronym for Advanced Television Systems Committee, and the name of the DTV system used by broadcasters in the U.S.
Back to Definitions

Barn Doors: A term used in television production to describe the effect that occurs when a 4:3 image is viewed on a 16:9 screen. When this happens, viewers see black bars on the sides of the screen or "barn doors."
Back to Definitions

Codec: This term is short for "Coder-decoder." A codec is a device that converts analog video and audio signals into a digital format for transmission. It also converts received digital signals back into an analog format.
Back to Definitions

Compression: Compression refers to the reduction of the size of digital data files by removing redundant and/or non-critical information ("data" being the elements of video, audio and other "information"). Digital TV in the U.S. would not be possible without compression.
Back to Definitions

Computer Input: Some HDTV sets have an input like SVGA or VGA that allows the TV sets to be connected to computers.
Back to Definitions

Datacasting: Also known as "enhanced TV." Datacasting is the act of providing enhanced options offered with some digital programming to provide additional program material or non-program related resources. This allows viewers the ability to download data (video, audio, text, graphics, maps, services, etc.) to specially equipped computers, cache boxes, set-top boxes, or DTV receivers.
Back to Definitions

Decoder: See "codec." A device or program that translates encoded data into its original format (i.e., it decodes the data.)
Back to Definitions

Digital: Digital refers to the circuitry in which data-carrying signals are restricted to one of two voltage levels, corresponding to logic 1 or 0.
Back to Definitions

Digital Cable: A service provided by many cable providers, digital cable offers viewers more channels. Contrary to many consumers' beliefs, digital cable is not the same as High- Definition Television or digital television; rather digital cable simply offers cable subscribers the options of paying for more services. Digital Monitor: DTV monitors are televisions that can display a digital signal but lack an integrated tuner (unlike an integrated digital set), and thus cannot receive a digital broadcast signal without an additional set-top box.
Back to Definitions

Digital Monitor: DTV monitors are televisions that can display a digital signal but lack an integrated tuner (unlike an integrated digital set), and thus cannot receive a digital broadcast signal without an additional set-top box.
Back to Definitions

Digital Television (DTV): Digital TV is the umbrella term encompassing High-definition Television and several other applications, including Standard Definition Televison, datacasting, multicasting and interactivity.
Back to Definitions

Digital Tuner: A digital tuner serves as the decoder required to receive and display digital broadcasts. It can be included inside TV sets or via a set-top box.
Back to Definitions

Dolby Digital: This is a digital surround sound technology used in movie theaters and upscale home theater systems that enhances audio. Home theater components with this technology work in conjunction with a "5.1-speaker" system (five speakers plus a low-frequency subwoofer) to produce true-to-life audio that draws the listener into the onscreen action.
Back to Definitions

Interlaced Scanning: This process divides and presents each video frame as two fields. Imagine a video frame being divided by the odd and even horizontal lines that make up the picture. The first field presents the odd lines; the second field represents the even lines. The fields are aligned and timed so that, with a still image, the human eye blends the two fields together and sees them as one. Motion in the image makes the fields noticeable. Interlace scanning allows only half the lines to be transmitted and presented at any given moment.
Back to Definitions

Letterbox: Letterbox refers to the image of a wide-screen picture on a standard 4:3 aspect ratio television screen, typically with black bars above and below. It is used to maintain the original aspect ratio of the original source (usually a theatrical motion picture of 16:9 aspect ratio or wider).
Back to Definitions

Multicasting: The option to multicast was made possible by digital technology to allow each digital broadcast station to split its bit stream into 2, 3, 4 or more individual channels of programming and/or data services. (For example, on channel 7, you could watch 7-1, 7-2, 7-3 or 7-4.)
Back to Definitions

Must-carry: This refers to the legal obligation of cable companies to carry analog or digital signals of over-the-air local broadcasters.
Back to Definitions

NTSC: NTSC is the acronym that stands for National Television Systems Committee" and the name of the current analog transmission standard used in the U.S., which the committee created in 1953.
Back to Definitions

Pixel: Pixel is actually two words jammed together: Picture and Element. A pixel is a tiny sample of video information, the "little squares" that make up an overall picture.
Back to Definitions

Standard Definition TV Format (SDTV): There are two main digital formats - HDTV and SDTV. SDTV typically does produce better quality images than that of traditional analog TV and pictures somewhat akin to digital cable. However, its images are not nearly as sharp as the images from the ultimate form of digital television: High-definition TV (HDTV).
Back to Definitions

Set-top Converter Box: This unit sits on top of the viewer's analog TV, receives the Digital TV signal, converts it to an analog signal, and then sends that signal on to the analog TV.
Back to Definitions

Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA): This acronym is short for the "Super Video Graphics Array" display mode. SVGA resolution is 800 x 600 pixels.
Back to Definitions

Terrestrial Broadcasting: This is a broadcast signal transmitted "over-the-air" to an antenna. Upconverting: Process by which a standard definition picture is changed to a simulated high-definition picture.
Back to Definitions

Upconverting: Process by which a standard definition picture is changed to a simulated high-definition picture.
Back to Definitions

Video Graphics Array (VGA): This acronym is short for the "Video Graphics Array" display mode. VGA resolution is 640 x 480 pixels.
Back to Definitions

Wide screen: A term given to picture displays with a wider aspect ratio than NTSC 4:3. Digital HDTV or SDTV is referred to as "16:9 wide screen." Most motion pictures also have a 16:9 wide screen aspect ratio. Most Digital TVs have a screen that is wider than it is tall (if a Digital TV screen is nine inches high, it's 16 inches wide.) When watching a show recorded in the wide screen format on a Digital TV, viewers see more of the movie, while when viewing wide screen format on an analog TV, cropped edges are evident.
Back to Definitions