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By Emily Gorton
Staff Writer
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
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A recent study by the BVA has revealed that a staggering six million viewers have been using their new high-definition technology incorrectly.
After spending thousands of pounds on a high definition TV they failed to buy the additional accessories, such as a blu-ray player, to actually make their new purchases work in high-definition.
Hilariously - or worryingly, depending on how you look at it - 6.5 million people then remain ignorant of their mistake and believe that they have already been experiencing high-definition in their homes.
HD Unready
9,500 people were involved in the British Video Association study concerning the new high-definition technology.
Of these, 55% were incorrectly using their equipment by neglecting to buy a blu-ray player to watch recorded media in high-definition or a set-top box to watch HD TV.
27% thought that a 'HD' TV showed everything in high-definition, when in fact they still require the appropriate enhancers.
Another 28% thought they could flaunt the additional expense of a Blu-ray player, believing that they would be able to watch films in high-definition on a standard DVD player.
So, out of the 14.6 million people who have HDTVs, 30% of the population, 8.1 million are enjoying real high-definition and 6.5 million only think they are.
Why High-Definition?
The latest craze for high-definition is believed to be connected with the approaching FIFA World-Cup which will commence in June this year.
Thousands are flocking to their local retailers to ensure they will be able to watch every match in the finest high-definition detail.
This new technology certainly does enhance the viewing experience, with 5x the picture quality of a normal TV as well as improved audio quality.
High-definition is the result of a much higher image resolution which means that there are more horizontal and vertical lines of light in the picture which provide finer and more precise images.
To achieve this effect, viewers need to not only purchase a HDTV, but also the more important set-top boxes, which broadcast programmes in HD.
These boxes are now available as part of a subscription with several broadcasting companies.
Sony PS3s and Blu-ray players play blu-ray films in high-definition and can now be purchased for under £100.
Why Blu-ray?
Ten years have passed since VHS videos were replaced and it is predicted that DVDs will soon meet the same fate.
Where HD TV programmes may have a high-resolution, Blu-rays are ahead with a whopping 1080 display, more than double the image resolution of a DVD.
They are read with a smaller blue laser, as opposed to the red ones which handles DVDs.
This means that the disc can be read from a closer proximity so that the discs have 6x the storage space of DVDs.
As this laser can also read DVDs, the new Blu-ray players can read both types of media, so DVDs are not quite dead yet.
In fact, many viewers, as well as failing to clasp the fundaments of the technology, are unwilling to splash-out for the new technology as the cost of Blu-ray discs dwarfs that of DVDs.
Blu-ray DVD Rental
Consumers could use online DVD rental sites to overcome the problem of Blu-ray discs.
Many of these companies now stock a substantial amount of Blu-rays as well as DVDs.
LoveFilm have 1906 available titles and Blockbuster have 1508 and these figures are increasing daily.
The best aspect of most of these sites is the fact that Blu-ray discs cost the same price to rent as DVDs, since the various rental plans covering both types of media.
So customers are advised to check they have the right technology and are using it correctly, as well as visiting online rental sites for an affordable Blu-ray experience.
With 3D TV already available, who knows what new digital media will arrive to confuse us in years to come.
 Online DVD Rental
DVD Rental Guide
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