You don't need 1080p

Ok, I admit that I stole this week’s blog post from myself, but I’m still getting questions on this, so here it is. I’m also posting older Gearworks and Hook Me Up articles over the coming weeks so we have a better catalog of helpful articles that had been in the mag but hadn’t been posted here.

Viewing Distance vs. Resolution

Or, how I learned to stop worrying and love 720p.

Resolution starts (and ends) with the eye. If you're one of the lucky few with 20/20 vision (corrected or not), your eye can discern one-sixtieth of a degree of arc at 20 feet. Translated to inches, this means that, at 20 feet, your eye can discern objects roughly 0.067 inches wide, as long as there's enough of a contrast difference between the object and the background. This refers only to black-and-white info; your eye doesn't resolve color nearly as well as black-and-white. Also, eyes and contrast are a whole other GearWorks that I'll get to eventually. Lastly, we're going to stick with width for simplicity, although this discussion obviously applies to both width and height. Most people sit about 10 feet from their TVs. At this distance (and everything else being equal), your eye can resolve objects that are 0.033 inches wide.

Talk TV, Smart Guy
The average 42-inch-diagonal, 1,280-by-720 plasma or LCD display has pixels that are roughly 0.029 inches wide. (Of course, each model has different inter-pixel spacing, but, for now, we'll assume they don't.) If the same size display had a resolution of 1,920 by 1,080, the pixels would be 0.019 inches wide. As you can see, in a 42-inch display at a distance of 10 feet, your eye can't discern the resolution available even with 720p. Even more resolution is "wasted" at 1,920 by 1,080.

Now, assuming that you're not going to move your couch but you want a bigger TV, how does this work with a 50-inch set? The pixels in a 1,280-by-720 display are 0.034 inches wide, which is almost exactly what your eye can discern at 10 feet. A 1,920-by-1,080 display has 0.023-inch-wide pixels, smaller than your eye can resolve. A 1,920-by-1,080 display would have to measure more than 70 inches diagonally before you start testing your eyes' limits on the display's resolution (at least at 10 feet). Scan lines are the pixels of the CRT world and, in this case, function similarly. The pixels in some displays are not square, in which case you'll also need to check pixel height.

Hold Up, Math Whiz
That isn't the whole story. High resolution, in and of itself, isn't why the the move was made to HD. Ideally, a screen should fill 30 degrees of your field of view for so-called "optimum viewer enjoyment." This is why kids sit so close to the TV, and movies in the theater were more fun than your old TV. By making the screens wider and letting you sit closer (thanks to the higher resolution), the average TV's field of view went from 11 degrees (in most cases) with NTSC to 33 degrees with an ideal HDTV. Rarely is everything ideal, though. The "3x picture height" rule that's tossed about as the ideal seating distance for HDTV (compared with 7x for NTSC) doesn't take into account that displays and high-definition material aren't perfect (and, until recently, none were really 1,920 by 1,080). Just because you can match or exceed your eye/pixel resolution doesn't mean that the material you're watching has anything close to that level of detail. Video noise, artifacts, and poor-quality low-resolution sources (NTSC cable/satellite feeds) are all too noticeable at close distances.

To split the difference between NTSC and HDTV, I recommend a 5x seating distance as a starting point (even at a loss of field of view). At 5x, your eye can almost exactly resolve 720p, regardless of screen size. Since the original writing, we put this math to the test, with intersting results. You can read that article here.

So, Can I Buy a Cheap TV?
Just because your eye can't resolve the additional resolution doesn't mean that you shouldn't get a higher-resolution set; it just means that you don't necessarily have to. From where most people sit, you don't need 1080p in a 37-42 inch TV. It's arguable that you do in a 50-inch set. The key, then, is moving your seating. If you're sitting more than 5x the picture height away from your TV, then you probably don't need 1080p. If you can move closer, you should get the highest resolution display you can, sit close enough that you can't see the pixels, and enjoy your huge screen.

The Math
(Screen Diagonal x 0.87) / Horizontal Resolution = Pixel Width
(Screen Diagonal x 0.49) / Vertical Resolution = Pixel Height
At a distance of 10 feet, the eye can resolve 1/120 of a degree of arc, which translates to a width of 0.033 inches.

COMMENTS
Pzgvvqvq's picture

Very Good Site

Uaeovuif's picture

Very interesting tale

Ypmhtisv's picture

It's funny goodluck

Conusaeg's picture

good material thanks

Ldzidnqb's picture

perfect design thanks

unfoclomync's picture

motherfuckers xxx videosr tro pornwatch free porn videoink porn gifpinky the black porn starkapri styles porn picstop porn star in germanydigital hardcoregyneacologist porn videofree hot asian porn stars thumbnailsspanish porn site tu videobig aas pornxxx snowwhite comicshardcore gallery pbasexxx free lesbian trailerabc kids pornxxx latina sexcasey anothy pornporn xxx downloadslesbian porn nowbg boob teen porn moviesvideos pornos gratis de famosas follandoyoung teen porn glleriesdirect to drive pornemo hentai xxxprivate porn 2010 jelsoft enterprises ltdtop teen porn videoescastro supreme cocodorm threesome porntennage robot pornyoung girls underwear xxxporn watch porn videosfree porn video amatuercontorshonist pornglobal porn wungabby skyy pornxxx subic baychampagne ii porn starjimmy n pornxxx pics fantasyporn pics friend's motherporno barbie angers toymakerdebra lafave nude xxxstartrek pornbest lesbian porn everfree f

Oqrokutx's picture

Thanks funny site

Efsenhjx's picture

Very Good Site

Fwigxetx's picture

Very funny pictures

Eczqnzbr's picture

Gloomy tales

Bjcayqcz's picture

Cool site goodluck :)

Yrmofgpj's picture

Cool site goodluck :)

mac cosmetics replica's picture

Here is the mac cosmetics replica supplier.we are offering all kinds of mac cosmetics replica,safe & high quality,meanwhile,these goods are all low-cost.do not hesitate,just place a order, we are glad to hear from u soon.mac cosmetics replica

Qleqnpsb's picture

this is be cool 8) lolita 456 nude young =-D ls magazine land lolita :[[ elwebb lolita site list xydtdd no nude preteen lolitas 86145 lolita models sun bbs :-((( loli girls nude preview :] little lolita panty pics 97551 tight virgin lolita pussies =-[[[ preteen lolita top 100 =(( www lolita nude com uodsno

Kdsrlirk's picture

Good crew it's cool :) non nudepreteen lolitas bbs mlqak little loli models hot flva nude pussy lolita galleries cfaxoz lolita nude hq nymph :))) preteen lolita nude kdz 8-OO bbs loli young girls 033 12yo lolitas free movies jxnt alolitas lolita pre models tbzvai bbs lol to teen :]]] xxx land loli galleries 304

copyokay's picture

copyokay

copyokay's picture

copyokay.com

copyokay.com's picture

Adidas chile 62 tracksuit:http://www.copyokay.comAdidas chile 62 tracksuit:http://www.copyokay.comAdidas chile 62 tracksuit:http://www.copyokay.comAdidas chile 62 tracksuit:http://www.copyokay.comAdidas chile 62 tracksuit:http://www.copyokay.com

Qcykcqgy's picture

Best Site good looking lol post bbs lol bbs 948 vlad model bbs 01520 ovens place bbs itzw ls girls bbs sxp loli hc bbs >:PPP freedom bbs ls chfkwc yoda bbs =(( sven s place bbs 545783 early girls bbs dzmu max4teen bbs 611

Azytivmr's picture

Thanks funny site sven bbs :DD young bbs post %DD mixman bbs ckf girl child bbs 2028 sandra bbs vuff young love bbs slyp freedom bbs ls 7700 yoda bbs jikdbs sven s place bbs 360 max4teen bbs pya

Yetyusag's picture

magic story very thanks asian bbs illegal bbs gfwjy sven bbs 6767 mixman bbs 0506 max bbs livedoor sports 354062 sandra bbs hnkqs loli hc bbs ond sven's place bbs :))) lolicon bbs :-OO max4teen bbs aabjoo pthc bbs :DD

Parça TL Kontör's picture

Good post,I think so! Dear Admin, I thank you for this informative articlehttp://www.jetkontorbayi.comhttp://www.kontoranabayi.com

snow boot's picture
Bcmxoaez's picture

Best Site Good Work sophia at freeones 5906 freeones oklahoma epkg freeones rachel honey 272 kristens room on freeones 491 kate jones freeones >:OO aston richards free ones dwp megan monroe freeones vfxid freeones brooke haven 153 lulu at freeones wrf judy star freeones tqt

Zahpfcsg's picture

magic story very thanks mya cross cuntry freeones messageboard meg 8-OO caydon moore freeones tptwu nyla knox freeones :-DDD catalina larranga at freeones boards 814 mira met art freeones yqbtbf freeones has mary mendum 21421 freeones subscription 028770 monster loads free ones 14968 rachel rox pics freeones %-P diana spice freeones =-)

Rjpxmrpg's picture

Gloomy tales freeones gwen diamond =)) brides freeones %-[ sexy sandy freeones %-D samatha sanders freeones pink porn porneskimo 064 sage st claire freeones 024 alexis silver at freeones board 8-))) one click vicky freeones %D lisa chu at freeones %-) souther brooke freeones pmmwd annya angel pics free ones :-DD

Hddyoybt's picture

Very Good Site precious virgins gerri freeones :-OOO freeones uniforms giifeu free ones morgan march 912345 freeones r 357140 free ones sharday blog 215248 sophie dee vidoes freeones 4093 freeones board erica campbell xwdsen freeones pushing too big :-PP freeones bulletin board sophie dee 750036 freeones brianna beach gktcn

Zvjggxbq's picture

magic story very thanks cute young nudism ictufy porn nichole kidman %DDD ls magazine naturist 724 young nude 14year traolz sexy nn kids ederx bbs sven's board xycp non nude babys :]]] pre-teen rape pics xkonhc df toplist teen rzy littlefuck malmw young throat fucking kyzn nude young fatties yvmb virgin boy pic :-OO fern britton bikini 779376 island sex virgin 009833 illegal child pics royui virgin defloration incest 96846 girl bikini urope jifaqx little haired pussy 814 young naturist pussy 7146 young dad sex 893 tiny movies teen 97174 pre nude little kfs russians nudist kids 0438 child educational toy 339 little boy speedo 62954 loosing virginity xxx 8[[[ 15y o bbs 5183 hot little virgins 1726 young foreing teens ejq

Buyzdwjf's picture

Best Site good looking hairy young preteens :DDD preteen art collection dwkmf models preteen boys 349530 sexiest nymphet preteens tkwrxr nude preteen african >:DDD preteen innocent models =-PP preteen sex manga :OOO nn sexy preteens >:-) boy preteen tgp 490 nude skirt preteen 92120 bikini preteen com 3548 hot preteens babes jga fresh sexy preteens 0006 mini preteens video yuqdrc hot preteen bodies zgr cute nude preteens 9551 preteen mexican models 140 preteen hard pics 672754 sweet preteen nude 719 twinks preteen models >:-((( hardest preteen fucking zxd japanese preteen hentai 88337 litlle preteen naked 8DDD preteen thumb archive bhh preteen love tgp 6181 topless preteens nude 28793 preteen forbiden modells emkirf black preteen tgp >:-) preteen panty tgp =-(( preteen pee pics sczbg

Vhjnnbfc's picture

pedo world cjw pedo stars 1596 pedo links 566 free pedo kghry pedo child gallery 14610 loli pedo cp %)) pedo sex stories fsrou lolita pedo %-P pedo gallery iiwn illegal pedo pics 8-O pedo paradise 9166 pedo russian girl 599 preteen pedo =PPP top pedo sites 642 loli 12 years pedo izplyz free pedo pics 1905 free pedo stories buvfs illegal pedo jgut pedo lolita 858379 pedo tube 90795

Pages

X