Video & TV Tech

• 1 in 20 claim to own an 8K set and 1 in 9 say they are “very likely” to buy an 8K set this year. (Hub Entertainment Research)
• It is anticipated that only 2.7M households worldwide will own and use an 8K TV by the end of 2026 due to:
  • 8K streaming is only on YouTube, Vimeo and a few other apps (and you need upwards of 50 Mbps or higher broadband speed).
  • There are no 8K TV broadcasting (except in Japan) with the ability to broadcast in 4K still slowly being rolled out in the U.S.
  • Movies and TV studios don’t have an end-to-end 8K production and distribution capability of any consequences.
  • There are no plans to make an 8K DVD disc format available to customers.
  • There aren’t a significant number of 8K games being released.
    (ecoustics)

Leia – Light Field Display

Light field displays promise a near Holodeck-type 3D experience. A regular camera gives you a single perspective. All you see is exactly what the camera sees. A stereo (or 3D) camera gives you two perspectives— one for each eye. Light field technology gives you many perspectives. It does this by using many cameras (or simulated viewpoints) to let you choose your perspective (for example, by tracking your head position) while viewing the image. This enables realistic 3D viewing without using special glasses. Leia is developing light field displays that can render this light field content. Organizations like the Immersive Digital Experiences Alliance (IDEA) are working on ways to encode, transmit and display light field content so someday this 3D experience can be enjoyed by everyone.

By J. Clarke Stevens, Shaw^*

Samsung 8K Projector

Samsung’s “The Premier” is an ultra-short throw (UST) projector with 8K resolution. That’s four times as many pixels as a 4K TV which in turn is four times the resolution of a 1080P high-definition TV. The UST projector sits on a table a few inches from your wall and can project a picture up to 150 inches (diagonally) on any wall. You’ll just have to make some compromises. A “wall” is generally a lousy surface for video projection, so you might want to buy a projection screen. Also, the UST projector is going to have less contrast than a longer throw projector and much less contrast that of a microLED, OLED or even backlit LCD TV. You’ll have to draw the curtains. Atmos sound is from a built-in sound bar, but Atmos sound from a single speaker box, on a table, is different from Atmos sound though surround speakers with a dedicated subwoofer. If your priority is a big picture on your wall from an unassuming box on the table, this is a smart choice. If your priority is an amazing home theater experience, you can get a better system for less money.

By J. Clarke Stevens, Shaw^*

ASUS – Glasses-free, eye-tracking 3D Laptop

Light field displays are not only good for watching 3D content on a TV, they’re also good for watching 3D content on a laptop. Building on the concept, the ASUS Vivobook Pro 3D OLED uses what ASUS calls Simulated Reality (SR). It’s a combination of lenticular light-field, integrated sensors and image processing algorithms that combine to create a realistic 3D experience.

By J. Clarke Stevens, Shaw^*

Displace – Suction Cup Wireless TV

While LG showed “wireless” TV’s that send signals from a separate box to the wall-mounted TV (that needs a power cord), Displace showed a “true” wireless TV that needs no power cord. It runs on four rechargeable batteries and sticks to the wall, window, or your pickup’s tailgate with two giant active motorized suction cups. All you do is press it against the flat surface and you’re good to go! It also features a built-in camera on top that pops up with a ball-point pen action. The camera can be used for video conferencing, but it’s also for gesture recognition to control the TV rather than a remote control. I’m not sure how many use cases require a true wireless TV, but they said it hardly took any time to set up.

By J. Clarke Stevens, Shaw^*

Brelyon – Cavity Graphics for 3D

Brelyon is an MIT spinoff that uses a glass-free 32” screen to simulate a 122” virtual screen 5 feet away. In other words, you get the experience of 3D surround video on a more modest-sized screen. It’s ideal for gaming or other immersive experiences.

By J. Clarke Stevens, Shaw*

Video and TV Tech Report

Discover how video continues to be a catalytic force that drives the current entertainment landscape.

CES 2023 Report

Get an inside look at some of the latest innovative trends in media and entertainment from the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show through a personal analysis from J. Clarke Stevens, Shaw. *

^* Please note that any opinions, views, commentary or recommendations about these technologies related to the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and/or any products or services participating in the CES made by Clarke Stevens are his alone and do not represent opinions, views, commentary, recommendations of Shaw Communications Inc., its affiliates or its management (collectively, “Shaw”) about the CES and Shaw does not approve, recommend and endorse of any of the products or services participating in the CES.