4K TV is not yet mature, 8K TV is on the way

　　TVs using 8K video technology will definitely be the direction of TV display technology development in the next 3-5 years. As long as the technical, mass production and cost issues of the entire industry chain are solved, 8K TVs will soon be available to ordinary people. However, the improvement of the entire industry chain will not be achieved overnight, and it requires the continuous efforts of industry professionals. I hope that 8K TVs can be popularized as soon as possible so that ordinary consumers can enjoy better pictures.

　　What is 8K

　　So, what exactly is 8K? And how is it different from 4K? Let’s first briefly review 4K technology.

　　At present, in terms of display effect, 4K resolution is the development trend. It can achieve a pixel resolution of 3840×2160, which is 4 times the resolution of 2K projectors and HDTVs. Just talking about numbers may make people feel dizzy. To talk about something specific, friends who have been to the cinema will definitely be shocked by the display effect of the IMAX screen in the cinema. In fact, the IMAX screen widely used in cinemas is one of the applications of 4K resolution.

　　In fact, 4K resolution is actually concocted by many cinema companies. It was originally advocated by the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI), whose members include many large film studios such as Disney, 20th Century Fox, MGM, Sony Entertainment, Universal, Warner Bros., etc. Due to the promotion of many film companies, it has successfully become the resolution standard for the new generation of Hollywood blockbusters, with an ultra-fine picture of 4096×2160 resolution. Due to the special requirements of movie screens, there is little difference in the horizontal resolution with 4K TVs.

　　"Each generation has its own talents, and each leads the trend for hundreds of years." In the field of television video technology, mainstream technology can only lead the trend for a few years before being replaced by new technology. When 4K technology became popular, JVC and NHK jointly launched 8K resolution. This technology is even more exaggerated, with a resolution of 7680×4320 pixels, which is 16 times larger than the current mainstream HDTV resolution and 4 times that of 4K TV. If we use 8K TV to watch Blu-ray blockbusters, the picture can only occupy 1/16 of the screen.

　　It seems that the gap between 8K and 4K TV is quite obvious, especially in terms of resolution, which is 4 times higher. In fact, they are of the same origin and both belong to the next generation of TV video technology: Super Hi-Vision.

　　Speaking of Super Hi-Vision technology, it has a long history. As early as 2006, the Japan Broadcasting Association Science and Technology Research Laboratory (NHK) submitted the rudimentary Super Hi-Vision video technology to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). After investigation and evaluation, the International Telecommunication Union recommended Super Hi-Vision video technology as a draft for UHDTV. Thus, the predecessor of 4K and 8K technology was born.

　　The full name of UHDTV is Ultra High Definition Television, which means ultra-high-definition television. It is intended to be used to define the next generation of television video technology. However, Super Hi-Vision video technology has become the exact name of the next generation of television video technology. Like HDTV technology, it also includes two different standards, namely UHDTV1 and UHDTV2.

　　The resolution of UHDTV1 is 3840×2160, which is commonly known as 4K technology and is the entry level of Super Hi-Vision video technology; while the resolution of UHDTV2 is 7680×4320, which is the newly launched 8K technology, which is the highest level of current TV video technology and will also be the development direction of TV video technology.

　　What is the 8K effect like?

　　Having said so much, how advanced and powerful 8K technology is. So, how clear is the computer using 8K technology, and can it show every detail?

　　To accurately restore the image quality of Super Hi-Vision technology, it is not something that ordinary peripherals can achieve. At the beginning of the year, with the assistance of NHK, JVC officially launched an 8K ultra-high-definition projector called DLA-VS4800 in Japan. The projector has an ultra-high contrast ratio of 1000000:1. With ultra-high-definition 8K (8192×4800) resolution, the projected picture effect is amazing. The picture of 8K TV dare not say that there is a qualitative leap, but the overall effect is still very obvious.

　　In addition, the horizontal viewing angle of TVs using 8K technology is 100°. At a time when panoramic display technology has not yet been launched, TVs using 8K technology are the best display environment, far exceeding the 55° horizontal viewing angle of 2K and 4K resolution TVs.

　　It is also worth mentioning that the colorimetric indicators of the Super Hi-Vision video system, such as primary color coordinates, standard white, photoelectric conversion function, brightness/color difference component equation, etc., are compatible with existing standards such as ITU-R BT.709 and SMPTE RP177. Overall, Super Hi-Vision video technology is not only innovative, but also performs very well in terms of compatibility.

　　Where is 8K used?

　　No matter how great 8K technology is, if it is not put into practical use, it is just a castle in the air and has no practical value.

　　Of course, the TV is the one that has the closest contact with consumers. As early as January 8, 2013, at the CES Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sharp released the world's first 8K resolution LCD TV.

　　Similarly, peripherals such as projectors have been widely used, such as the JVC DLA-VS4800 mentioned above. This 8K resolution projector, which has been released in Japan, can project impressive images. However, its price of US$261,000, or about RMB 1.6 million, is even more staggering.

　　In addition, the conceivable application range also includes cinema screens, computer monitors, outdoor display screens, and even mobile phone screens, which may be the application direction of 8K technology.

　　What is the future of 8K?

　　The advent of any new technology has a process of acceptance and adaptation, and this is true for 4K TVs and 8K TVs. Since 8K TVs have more outstanding video effects and represent the development direction of the next generation of TV video technology, they will definitely replace the currently dominant 4K technology and become the development direction of future TVs.

　　Of course, like any other technology, 8K technology also has some flaws and shortcomings. Since 8K video technology has very strict rigid standards, 7680×4320 progressive scan resolution, 22.2 channels and naked-eye 3D display technology, the overall industry chain needs to be improved urgently.

　　First, the price remains high. Since mass production has not yet begun and companies themselves want to raise their brands, new products are often priced very high. This can be seen from the DLA-VS4800 sold by JVC, which costs 1.6 million RMB and can scare away more than 99% of consumers. Although Sharp has not announced the price of its first 8K TV, it will not be less than 200,000 RMB at least.

　　Second, the lack of photographic equipment. At present, display technology can already be promoted. However, the severe shortage of photographic equipment will naturally lead to a severe shortage of 8K video technology content. At present, the resolution of 8K video technology reaches 33 million pixels, while most full-frame SLR cameras on the market are around 24 million pixels. In other words, even if it is to play photos, the photo size of most SLR cameras cannot meet the requirements of 8K video technology, let alone the requirements of video images.

　　The third problem is that the video storage space is too large. When using the JVC Super Hi-Vision camera to capture 8K video, it was found that a 1-minute 8K video would take up 194GB of storage space. Such a huge volume is a huge challenge for both Blu-ray discs and TV signals. Currently, TDK has developed a single-disc 320GB Blu-ray disc, which still needs to be widely used.

　　Fourth, higher requirements are placed on TV components such as image processors. The current mainstream image processors must be redesigned to avoid problems with high heat and huge data processing.