Is 4K Ready to Replace 1080p or Is 8K Just a Pipe-Dream?
The journey to higher 4K and beyond has been slower than anticipated. Let us explore the reasons behind the prolonged adoption process and the factors that suggest 8K might just be a pipe-dream.
The Current State of 4K Technology
While 4K television broadcasting is already available in South Korea and limited 8K TV broadcasting is available in Japan, the adoption in the United States is still in the early stages. New ATSC 3.0/NextGEN TV format is slowly being implemented, but TV broadcasters are likely to wait until a significant majority of TV stations are broadcasting in that format to leverage it fully. This transition may take several years to materialize.
Limitations of 4K and 8K for the Mass Market
Engineers at broadcast television are well aware that the minor improvements in 4K and 8K are marginal and only visible on huge screens (typically 84 inches or larger) with very close viewing distances. The "4K gimmick" and "8K gimmick," as they are often perceived, do not offer significant value to the broader audience. These gimmicks have faced similar skepticism from industry experts, including those who dismissed "UHD" and "3D" technology.
The Future of Dashcams and Security Cameras
The upgrade to 4K and 8K in dashcams and security cameras will take even longer. These technologies will eventually be supplanted, but the timeline is likely to stretch over decades. The slow progress in moving to higher resolutions highlights that there is a technological limit to which pixels enhance human perception.
The Human-Perception Limit
Because the human eye has a finite detail limit, it is arguable that we have already reached this limit with 4K. With a 4K monitor, you need to turn on the "150" text size, and it is hard to imagine what one would do with an 8K monitor, as it would be too much to handle. Higher resolutions do not necessarily equate to better perceived quality. For example, video saved at 1080P resolution from a cell phone or a movie may still look drab and pixelated.
The Role of Gamers in Driving Video Standards
Computer monitor and video card standards are driven by gamers, with game developers pushing for incredibly high resolutions and frame-rates. However, these are outlier demands, and the mainstream user does not prioritize such high resolutions. The evolution of technology is slowing down, as evidenced by the progression from 8086 to 486 processors, where each advancement was significant. Modern CPUs with multi-core technology can still perform well with some adjustments, indicating a shift in the technological landscape.
Conclusion: 4K Is Good Enough (Unless You're Reading Fine Print)
While 4K is good enough for most consumers, there might be some niche applications that benefit from higher resolutions. However, for the vast majority of users, the gains from moving from 1080p to 4K are considerable, and moving to 8K would be a significant leap that may not yield proportional benefits. Ultimately, the perceived resolution and actual resolution play a crucial role in determining the value of higher resolutions.
By understanding the limitations and the realities of consumer demand, we can better assess where the future of video technology is headed. While 8K might seem like the future, 4K remains the norm for most.