Research Centre - TV, DVD, Video and HD Recorders

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Angle Selection: Most DVD players allow you to watch films from multiple camera angles (provided the DVD in question has been programmed with this option).
Antenna: A device used for receiving broadcast signals.
Aspect Ratio: The height-to-width ratio of a TV screen. Standard TVs have a screen ratio format of 4:3. Widescreen TVs have a screen ratio format of 16:9.
Auto Letterbox: A DVD playback mode for 16:9 video on a 4:3 display.
Autoprogramming: A function that automatically searches for and stores all active channels into a TV's memory.
Chapter Selection: Most DVD movies have their contents divided into relevant segments called 'chapters'. This allows a DVD player to skip to different points in a film without the fast-forwarding or rewinding required by a VCR.
Contrast ratio: Measures the ratio of the light intensity of the brightest possible colour to the darkest possible colour a television is capable of showing at the same time - the higher the contrast ratio, the better the television.
Dolby Surround Sound: This decodes the Dolby surround signal on pre-recorded tapes and many broadcast TV shows for a theatre-quality experience.
Dolby ProLogic Surround Sound: Home theatre sound employing special steering circuitry that directs dialogue to the central channel speaker. Other sounds and effects are moved from left to right and front to back along with the action on the screen.
DTS: Digital Theatre Systems. A film and video surround system that incorporates 5.1 channels.
DTV: Digital Television.
DVD: Digital Versatile Disc. The latest generation of optical disc storage technology. A DVD can hold cinema-like video, enhanced audio, still photos or computer data. It lasts over 100 years without losing quality - much better than video which starts to degrade after five or ten year.
DVD Player: A device that reads the data on DVDs and converts it into playback. As DVDs are replacing VHS video, many players are available with a combined VCR - allowing users to enjoy videotapes and DVDs on one machine. There are also 3-in-1s that offer DVD, VHS and hard drive recording. Most DVD players will also play audio CDs.
DVD-R or DVD+R: A blank DVD that can be recorded onto just once.
DVD-RW or DVD+RW: A DVD that can be recorded onto (rewritten) thousands of times, much in the way that VHS tapes can be recorded onto again and again.
Easter Egg: As well as a delicious, seasonal, quasi-religious treat an easter egg is a hidden extra found on a DVD through angle selections or unusual menu navigation.
Flat Tube: A TV screen that has a flatter picture surface to give a better picture with less reflections and distortions.
Freeview: A service providing up to 30 digital TV channels, 20 digital radio stations and a host of interactive services: all for free (no subscription fee, although a standard TV licence is required). It can be received via a rooftop aerial - all that's required is a Freeview box or a TV with one already built-in to convert the signals.
Front A/V Input: Lets you quickly hook-up camcorders or other video devices to a TV.
Full Frame: A DVD playback mode for 4:3 video on a standard 4:3 TV screen.
Hard disk capacity: The amount of memory your hard drive recorder has in Gigabytes. Typically a 200GB hard drive can hold up to 355 hours of TV and films.
Hard Disk Recorder: The latest type of TV recording system, it utilizes a high-capacity hard disk to record digital video.
HDCP: Special content protection decoding that allows you to watch the latest films at High Definition
HDMI: High Definition Multimedia Input. A type of cable and receiver technology that allows you to get the best from HD signal on an HDTV
Headphone Jack: An input point for optional headphones.
HD Ready: Televisions that are HD Ready can receive and display the new High Definition TV signal.
HDTV: See High Definition television.
Heads: Every VCR needs at least two video heads to record a picture. Some have four or even six heads for heightened picture quality and jitter-free special effects like 'slow motion' and 'freeze frame'.
High Definition television: A new standard of television signal considered to be the biggest revolution in TV quality since we switched from black-and-white to colour. Compared to non-HD digital and analogue sets, it offers a huge increase in definition - from 625 lines of detail to up to 1080 lines. To watch HD you also need a special set-top box from you satellite or cable provider.
LCD TV: Liquid Crystal Display Television. Mostly found on smaller, portable TVs.
Letterbox: Often abbreviated to 'LBX', this means that video is presented in its theatrical aspect ratio (wider than standard or widescreen TV). It employs black bars called 'mattes' to cover the gaps at the top and bottom.
Long Play (LP): When set in this mode, a VCR will reduce its recording speed by half in order to double a cassette's overall recording length.
MP3 CD: A disc that holds MP3 files (a format that digitally compresses and stores sound). Sound files downloaded from the internet are often in this format. Most good DVD players can play them.
MPEG-1: A video compression scheme used by older CD video formats.
MPEG-2: A video compression scheme used to fit full-length movies on to DVDs.
NICAM: Near Instantaneous Companded Audio Multiplex. NICAM is the transmission system for the reception of Hi-Fi sound on your TV or VCR.
NTSC Standard: National Television System Committee. VHS tapes made for the American, Canadian and Asian markets are recorded in the NTSC Standard. It's the standard for almost everywhere but Europe, France and Russia.
PAL Standard: VHS tapes made for the European market.
Pan & Scan: The method for displaying a widescreen movie on a 4:3 ratio screen. It removes the outer portions of an image so that it can be displayed in full frame format.
Parental Lock: A feature on a DVD player or VCR that prevents children from watching undesirable programmes. It operates with a secret code number.
Picture in Picture: This function allows you to watch more than one TV channel at the same time. One programme will be displayed on the entire TV screen, and another programme or programmes will be displayed in individual smaller squares on the screen.
Playback Mode: Most DVD players have four playback modes: 'full frame', 'auto letterbox', 'auto pan & scan' and 'widescreen'.
Regional Codes: Every DVD is configured with a byte of information to ensure it can only be played in certain specified countries. Discs without regional locks will work on any player in any country: but most DVDs fall into one of eight established 'Regional Codes'. The UK's code is Region 2 - intended for the all European, Japanese, South African and Middle Eastern countries.
Sleep Timer: - A function that turns off a TV at a pre-set time determined by you.
TFT: Thin Film Transistor. A very thin flat-panel display with a high resolution.
Universal Remote: A single remote with TV, VCR and Cable capabilities pre-programmed.
Upscaling: New technology that lets you watch DVD films and programmes at High Definition on HDTVs.
VCD: Video Compact Disc. An older version of DVD that stores movies in MPEG-1 format.
VideoPlus+: A simpler way to program a VCR's timer. 'VideoPlus+' number codes are printed in daily newspapers for specific shows: simply input this code and your VCR will know the date, starting and finishing time of a particular programme.
Widescreen: A TV with a screen ratio of 16:9, literally allowing films to be watched in a wider format. Most DVDs offer this ratio as one of their playback modes.