Dolby Laboratories, world famous from pioneering sound quality, has announced it is to move into display technology, with the launch of Dolby Vision. Seen for the first time at CES in Las Vegas, Dolby Vision aims to improve brightness, colour and contrast of Ultra HD displays, rather than prioritise one of those features, as often happens in modern display technology. Current display technology can’t show detail in the dark and bright parts of the screen at the same time, Dolby Vision aims to address this. Current display and cinema colour-grading technology is based on standards created for cathode-ray displays, and requires that original content be altered, which reduces the range of colours, brightness and contrast before it can be reproduced for transmission and playback. Displays featuring Dolby Vision are expected to be available for retail purchase later in 2014. Speaking to the BBC, Dolby’s technology strategist, David Brooks, admitted there were some challenges ahead to get this new display standard adopted: “Firstly we have to get the creatives interested in this kind of content, as it provides a much bigger colour palette, they are already pretty much convinced. Secondly, we have to get the TV manufacturers want to provide that quality to consumers. Again, we have a lot of uptake on that. The third one is the transmission system, that’s an area where clearly that depends in the broadcast world on standards, but is much easier on internet video, where fewer standards exist.” Netflix has already signed up to stream videos in this new standard.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
DOLBY TO INTRODUCE NEW VIDEO STANDARD
Dolby Laboratories, world famous from pioneering sound quality, has announced it is to move into display technology, with the launch of Dolby Vision. Seen for the first time at CES in Las Vegas, Dolby Vision aims to improve brightness, colour and contrast of Ultra HD displays, rather than prioritise one of those features, as often happens in modern display technology. Current display technology can’t show detail in the dark and bright parts of the screen at the same time, Dolby Vision aims to address this. Current display and cinema colour-grading technology is based on standards created for cathode-ray displays, and requires that original content be altered, which reduces the range of colours, brightness and contrast before it can be reproduced for transmission and playback. Displays featuring Dolby Vision are expected to be available for retail purchase later in 2014. Speaking to the BBC, Dolby’s technology strategist, David Brooks, admitted there were some challenges ahead to get this new display standard adopted: “Firstly we have to get the creatives interested in this kind of content, as it provides a much bigger colour palette, they are already pretty much convinced. Secondly, we have to get the TV manufacturers want to provide that quality to consumers. Again, we have a lot of uptake on that. The third one is the transmission system, that’s an area where clearly that depends in the broadcast world on standards, but is much easier on internet video, where fewer standards exist.” Netflix has already signed up to stream videos in this new standard.
