Why does digital technology change the shape of the picture?
• The original 4:3 picture ratio was established to cloesely match the ratio used in film at the time. The new 16:9 ratio closely matches motion picture standards today. The letterbox format which is showing up on analog sets more and more allows viewers to see the entire production in 16:9 ratio, without losing nearly a third of the movie to cropping or pan & scan techniques. In other words, you’re seeing the show as the producer/director created it, not reformatted to fit the nearly square 4:3 ratio of analog sets. (for more details, check out Robert Cringely’s A Different Aspect web pages.) Will you be able to watch your existing VHS or DVD collection (in a 4:3 ratio) on a new digital TV? Most digital sets have an analog input that will allow you to hook up your existing DVD or VHS player. However, the picture quality will not be any better than that of a high quality standard television monitor.
