HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection)

    HDCP is a specification used to encrypt and protect digital video and audio signals transmitted between two HDCP-enabled devices. HDCP was developed by Intel to provide a way to "lock down" digital signals and protect copyright holders (movie studios, etc.) from having their programs copied and shared. The HDCP standard provides for the secure, encrypted transmission of signals.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)

HDMI is a digital video and audio connection system used to connect a variety of audio/video components, particularly high-definition video (HDTV). HDMI supports all HDTV formats (720p, 1080i, 1080p) along with support for up to eight channels of digital audio. HDMI transmits all digital signals without compression, allowing for superior quality without the presence of analog conversion artifacts.

HDMI is compatible with the DVI (Digital Visual Interface) standard as well as HDCP copy protection.

As a pure digital interface with high-bandwidth audio and video capabilities, HDMI provides the capability to transmit pure digital signals with just one wire compared to multiple analog connections that require potentially degrading digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversions.

High Contrast Picture Tube

A high contrast picture tube has increased contrast (more than traditional displays) that improves viewing in brightly lit rooms.

Horizontal Scan Rate

    The horizontal scan rate is the number of horizontal lines of information a video display can paint on a screen in one second (measured in Hz).

Hue

Hue is the distinction or difference between colors ranging from red to blue. Black, white and the levels of gray in between are not considered hues. Hue and saturation are the two parts of chroma, the color portion of a video signal.

HDTV (High Definition Television)

HDTV is a high resolution digital broadcasting format that is close to film quality.

Compared to regular TV broadcasting, HDTV images contain about six times the amount of picture information, resulting in an incredibly detailed image. In order to fully take advantage of HDTV broadcasting, you need a video display that is capable of displaying high-resolution images.

HDTV is often confused with digital television. HDTV displays can be digital or analog; the difference is the video display’s resolution, or number of pixels it can display. An HDTV display does not have to be digital, and digital TVs are not necessarily high-definition.

HDTV is part of a digital television standard (ATSC) adopted for the United States featuring AC-3 digital surround sound, a screen with a wide aspect ratio (16:9), and two picture standards: 1080i and 720p. 1080i is interlaced video with 1,080 horizontal lines (vertical resolution) by 1,920 vertical lines (horizontal resolution). 720p is non-interlaced (progressive scan) video with 1280 pixels across (horizontal resolution) and 720 top to bottom (vertical resolution).

Home Theater

Home theater is a term used to describe a complete audio/video system consisting of a video display and surround sound (left, right and center front speakers and left and right rear). Home theater systems are designed to bring the movie theater experience into the home, and may be located in any room of the house.

Most home theaters use multiple video sources such as TVs, DVD players, VCRs, and direct broadcast satellite systems. Most also contain audio sources such as CD players, cassette players and tuners.

Horizontal Resolution

Horizontal resolution measures the individual picture elements (pixels) running along a screen from left to right. Vertical resolution measures the number of pixels from top to bottom. Higher resolutions result in images that are better defined and form a solid, cohesive image. With low resolutions, the individual elements of the image are more noticeable.

There are two primary HDTV standards, 1080i and 720p. With 1080i the resolution is set at 1920 pixels across (horizontal resolution) and 1080 pixels top to bottom (vertical resolution). The 720p standard provides for 1280 pixels across (horizontal resolution) and 720 top to bottom (vertical resolution).