The 40-year history of high definition television technology is traced from initial studies in Japan, through its development in Europe, and then to the United States, where the first all-digital systems were implemented. Details are provided about advances in HDTV technology in Australia and Japan, Europe's introduction of HDTV, Brazil's innovative use of MPEG-4 and China's terrestrial standard. The impact of HDTV on broadcast facility conversion and the influx of computer systems and information technology are described, as well as the contributions of the first entrepreneurial HD videographers and engineers. This thoroughly researched volume highlights several of the landmark high-definition broadcasts from 1988 onward, includes input gathered from more than 50 international participants, and concludes with the rollout of consumer HDTV services throughout the world.

Hi-Vision is a new television system that Japan plications have already begun in some of these is the first to propose to the world. It has long areas. been in development by NHK (the Japanese In view of these developments, it is signifi Broadcasting Corporation). The term Hi-Vision cant that a book that systematically deals with itself is becoming well-known worldwide. Hi-Vision technologies is being published. Until NHK has been involved in the research and now there has not been any publication that ad development of a high-definition television sys equately dealt with Hi-Vision technologies, and tem for almost twenty years. Over this period, students and engineers interested in the subject the project has moved from basic visual, audi have had to sift through numerous journals and tory and psychological research to the devel papers. opment of experimental and broadcast quality Believing that there was now a need to sys equipment. With practical implementation near tematically present the results of a quarter cen at hand, a considerable amount of equipment is tury of research and development, the NHK Sci now already on the market. Furthermore, efforts ence and Technical Research Laboratories decided are underway to commercialize the technology to compile this volume. Each section has been by improving the performance of household and written by the research staff members directly broadcast systems and establishing an interna involved in the project and knowledgeable in tional standard. the latest developments.