TECHtionary

All those complicated words explained.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

1080I

A measure of resolution for a high definition TV signal. The 1080 is the number of lines of vertical display resolution, the ‘i’ stands for interlaced, referring to the manner in which the picture is displayed. Back to top

1080P

A measure of resolution for a high definition TV signal. The 1080 is the number of lines of vertical display resolution, the ‘p’ stands for progressive, referring to the manner in which the picture is displayed. 1080p is currently the highest form of high definition. Back to top

120Hz

A measure of the refresh rate of a TV image on LCD flat panel television. The refresh rate is the number of times in one second a TV displays the data it is being given. Back to top

16:9

The aspect ratio for a high definition, digital TV signal. Back to top

240Hz

A measure of the refresh rate of a TV image on LCD flat panel television. The refresh rate is the number of times in one second a TV displays the data it is being given. Back to top

4:3

The aspect ratio for a traditional, analog TV signal. Back to top

5.1 / 6.1 / 7.1

Numerical figure that represents the number of channels (speakers) in a surround sound system. A “5.1 system” would have 5 speakers (front left, front right, front center, rear left, rear right) and the “.1” refers to the subwoofer. 6.1 and 7.1 systems add more speakers. Back to top

720P

A measure of resolution for a high definition TV signal. The 720 is the number of lines of vertical display resolution, the ‘p’ stands for progressive, referring to the manner in which the picture is displayed. Back to top

Aspect Ratio

Used to describe the numeric relationship of a TV screens width to height ratio. You have the 4:3 ratio, or traditional square screen, and the 16:9 ratio, which represents the new wide screen format for high definition and DVD viewing. Back to top

ATSC tuner

Actually an acronym for the committee that developed the new digital TV format (Advance Television Systems Committee.) As a consumer, you want to make sure a TV you purchase has an ATSC tuner, making it compatible with the new digital TV format. Back to top

Barn Doors

Term used to describe the visual effect that occurs when a 4:3 image is viewed on a 16:9 screen. The black bars on both sides of the images are referred to as barn doors. Back to top

Blu-ray Disc

New disc format created that provides a full 1080p high definition picture and uncompressed digital audio. A special Blu-ray player is needed to view Blu-ray discs, and a 1080p high definition TV is needed to view movies in 1080p resolution. Back to top

Coaxial

A type of cable/connection. This is what we all used to connect our antenna, and VCR to our old TVs. It can still be used today for certain items, but cannot transfer a high definition signal. Back to top

Component

A type of cable/connection. Component cables transfer video signal only, and split the signal into red, green, and blue (thus the red, green and blue color-coded cables.) Component cables can transfer a high definition signal. Back to top

Compressed

Refers to the reduction of “information” of an audio or video signal. If a video or audio signal is compressed, it was reduced in “size”, and in order to do that, some information was removed. An example of compressed audio would be the music on an iPod or MP3 player, and DVDs are an example of a compressed video signal. Both were reduced because of storage space or limitations. Back to top

Contrast Ratio

The measurement of the difference between a TVs brightest brights (white) and darkest darks (black.) A higher contrast ratio is desired, as it means the TV will have a wide range of black and white, producing a better picture. Back to top

digital TV

The new standard for television broadcasting. A digital signal provides a higher picture quality and digital audio, and has allowed for high definition signals. Back to top

Distributed Audio & Video

Description used when a home has audio and video signals sent all through the home, typically from one centralized location of equipment. For example, one system could distribute music to every room in the home, even outside, and a video signal to the kitchen, den, and bedrooms. Back to top

DLP rear projection

Acronym for Digital Light Processing. The image is created by shining light onto millions of tiny mirrors to produce the image. DLP sets vary from 14” to 21” deep, are lightweight, and offer larger screen sizes more affordably than flat panels. Back to top

Docking Station

Term used to describe a device that you would place an iPod or MP3 player into. Docking stations can simply be a speaker system that plays your music out loud, or it can also connect your device to a larger system that can play or distribute your music to other areas. Back to top

DTV

Acronym used for generic term of Digital Television. Back to top

DTV transition

Refers to the switch in February, 2009 from an analog television broadcasting system to a digital television broadcasting system. Back to top

DVI

A type of cable/connection for video signals only. Offers the ability to transfer an uncompressed signal. DVI-I can pass both an analog and digital signal, while DVI-D can only transfer a digital signal. Back to top

DVR

Generic term used to describe a device that can record a television signal in digital format to a hard drive (like in a computer) rather than on a VHS tape or DVD disc. Also called a PVR (personal video recorder.) Back to top

E-cycling

Refers to the proper and legal process of recycling old electronics, commonly call e-waste. Currently, most municipalities charge consumers to e-cycle their electronic items. Back to top

E-waste

Refers to old, unwanted, broken or abandon electronic devices, or electronic waste. Back to top

Energy Star Compliant

If a product is Energy Star Compliant, it means it meets government standards for energy efficiency. Back to top

Front Projector

These compact units project an image onto a separate movie screen. Very light weight and portable, they can be placed on a table/stand or hung from the ceiling. Back to top

HD-DVD

Was a competing format to Blu-ray disc, but HD-DVD players are no longer being made. It also offered movies in 1080p high definition with uncompressed audio. They can play standard DVDs, but not Blu-ray discs. Back to top

HDMI

A type of cable/connection for digital audio and video. These cables have the ability to transfer a high definition signal and uncompressed audio, all in only one cable. Back to top

HDTV

High Definition Television is the highest level of TV signal available. It offers the best picture and sound quality in a wide screen (16:9) format. There are three resolutions for HD: 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Back to top

High Definition

Interlaced

Refers to one of the two ways an image is displayed on a TV screen. An interlaced picture shows half the lines of vertical resolution, then the other half, all within one second. This is done to reduce the amount of information that needs to be sent to the TV at any given time. Back to top

LCD flat panel

A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TV uses liquid-crystal filled cells to produce a picture. LCD TV's are thin and lightweight and offer a wide range of screen sizes. Back to top

Letterbox

Term used to describe the visual effect that occurs when a 16:9 image is viewed on a 4:3 screen. The black lines above and below the image create a letterbox effect. Back to top

Media Server

A generic term used to describe a device that holds home entertainment content, ranging from music and movies to TV shows and digital pictures. A media server can be connected to a computer or home entertainment system, and is often at the heart of a distributed audio & video system. Back to top

NTSC tuner

Actually an acronym for the committee that developed the analog TV format (National Television System Committee.) As a consumer, the key thing to understand is that this is the type of tuner analog TVs use to show an analog broadcast signal. Back to top

Pixel

In short, these are the tiny “squares” of video information that make up the overall picture. The higher the PPI, or pixels per inch, the better the picture quality. The total number of pixels is the resolution. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image will be. Back to top

Plasma Flat Panel

These TV’s use electrical pulses to excite gases to produce light and colors on the screen. Plasmas are thin and portable, but are heavier than their LCD Flat panel counterpart. Screen sizes start around 42” and go up to 103” +. Back to top

Progressive

Refers to one of the two ways an image is displayed on a TV screen. An progressive picture shows all the lines of vertical resolution in sequence, all within one second. This technology allows for a sharper, smoother image, but requires more bandwith. Back to top

QAM tuner

Refers to a type of tuner in some digital televisions that allows for reception of some unscrambled digital cable channels without the need for a set-top box. Back to top

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate is the number of times in one second a TV displays the data it is being given. Back to top

Sampling

Process which converts an analog signal to digital. Back to top

Simulated Surround Sound

A speaker system that has been designed to reproduce a surround sound effect, but does not have the minimum number of speakers required (5 plus a subwoofer) to create a “true” surround sound experience is said to create “simulated surround sound.” All simulated surround sound systems depend on sound waves being directed and reflected in multiple directions in order to obtain the desired effect. Back to top

Surround Sound

A mutil-channel audio experience that includes a minimum of 5 speakers and a subwoofer used to produce the sound. A typical surround sound system includes (3) front speakers (left, center, right), (2) rear speakers (left, right) and a subwoofer. Surround sound provides a dramatic, movie theater experience right in your home. Back to top

Terrestrial Broadcast

Also called “over the air,” this refers to a transmitted television signal consumers can receive with a roof top antenna - In other words, the way we used to get our TV signals. Back to top

Uncompressed

When an audio or video signal has not been altered or the amount of “information” in that signal has not been reduced in any manner, it is said to be uncompressed. An uncompressed signal offers superior sound and picture quality. Back to top

Upconverting

Taking a standard definition signal and upconverting it to a simulated high definition signal. Back to top

Viewing Angle

The maximum angle at which a TV picture can be viewed at with the quality still considered acceptable. As you move to the side of your TV screen, does the picture still look good? The greater the viewing angle, the further “off to the side” a viewer can sit. Back to top

Widescreen

Term used to describe the 16:9 aspect ratio. Back to top