I'm not sure what category you would file this "news" item under. Human Interest maybe? Regardless, MSNBC bring us the hard-hitting infotainment* piece Clearer Pictures: The coming high-defenition TV revolution.
The interactive feature fails in its aim of selling HDTV to the masses and points our a few humorous points along the way. First, that the term "High Definition" is relative and as a result meaningless. Second, illustrated through their handy TV-Resolution-through-the-years Flash presentation, they show that TV quality, including the "upcoming revolution" of HDTV, has stayed remarkably similar since 1936.
Anyone who has a 5 year old $3000-turned-$150 computer will not be impressed by 10% improvements over decades. We demand yearly improvements in order of magnitude.
* Microsoft Word told me that "infotainment" was a real word. The end is near.
Comments
sandy - July 26, 2001 11:26 am
Heh.
Infotainment.Heh, heh. Almost as funny as 'edutainment'. My favorite new official word in the dictionary, though, is 'd'oh!'
The site in question led me to think: "What the hell is the point of this?" Did the folks at MSNBC not look at their demonstration and say:"Gee, this actually doesn't sell hdtv... maybe we should hold off the celebrations"? I reckon not.
Daniel Burka - July 26, 2001 2:07 pm
in·fo·tain·ment (nf-tnmnt) as defined at dictionary.com
Daniel Burka - July 26, 2001 2:09 pm
note: one can use the synonym <b>docutainment</b>
Mr.Bacon & Eggs - July 27, 2001 2:09 pm
I'm abandoning the english language for something not quite so embarrassing
Isaac - July 27, 2001 2:36 pm
Try Basque
Steven Garrity - July 27, 2001 4:20 pm
I recommend XML.
L'il Benny Bacon - July 30, 2001 3:05 pm
Blegh . . .
Maybe english isn't so bad.