New Technology TV

Through the magical looking glass of High–Definition Television the truth is revealed. The visual truth, that is, and sometimes the imagery is surprisingly enlightening. On occasion, television pictures so sharp (five to six times as sharp as standard television) and so true can divulge more than you might have bargained for. David Letterman, for example, has a preponderance lines in his face that make him look much older than he is. One can only imagine Larry King; don’t linger too long in that thought. The truth shall set you free, and the good news, the great news actually, is that certain faces and bodies are simply astounding in Hi-Def. Take Eva Longoria from Desperate Housewives—her stunningly smooth skin and glowing face is a dream to behold.

I can’t help but speculate that the new HDTV (High Definition Television) programming is sometimes more revealing than the producers, stars, famous actresses, shock jocks, directors, and other Hollywood types would want. Perhaps they just didn’t realize that the technology was changing faster than their ability to master lighting, make-up and the all-seeing high definition cameras. Someone right now must be working on a soft-focus hi-def lens—something that will reveal all and cover it up at the same time. Good or bad, stark or dreamy, there is no doubt that hi-def television pictures are here to stay, and once you’ve tried it, you will never desire to go back to the old ways—even if certain craggy visages are not exactly pretty to see sometimes. In film, television shows and sports, Hi-Def is so spectacularly clear and virtually hypnotic in its ability to command the attention of any viewer, young or old. In movies and films, directors are finally able to convey the deep textures and colors of their subjects, be it a dusty Western main street, or the soft skin of a newly introduced starlet. The up-close and in your face effect of sports, especially football, is a new experience in itself. The brave new world of high definition images is not a remote experience anymore. With 5 megapixel cameras selling for well under 100 dollars, and hi-def consumer video cameras, all of us have probably noticed from time to time, new wrinkles and skin that doesn’t look as taunt as it used to. Occasionally, the leading man is exposed as less than perfect and heroines can lose their luster, but this is more than outweighed by the beautiful sight of a Reese Witherspoon or a bikini beach program in hi-def. And besides, the information age, isn’t just limited to new ideas or factual things, it includes new visual information that until now could only be known by the friends and families of the celebrities.