11. LED Lightsource Technology
One of the most significant advances that is beginning to make an impact on home theater is the introduction of the LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light source for both LCD flat panel TV and Video Projection applications.
Along with benefits resulting from the incorporation of LED technology into Televisions, such as deeper black levels and lower energy consumption, there has also been a lot of hype and confusion surrounding LED. It is important to note that the LED designation refers to the backlight or edgelight system used in an increasing number of LCD Televisions, not the chips that produce the image content.
For more details on this, plus more on why LED technology is an important advance in both television and video projection, refer to my article: LED TV - The Truth About "LED" Televisions.
12. Tactile Motion and Motion Control
We are all familiar with the effect of a subwoofer. Much of the subwoofer experience entails more of what we can feel than what we can hear. However, although the subwoofer can rattle your windows and make your neighbors angry, the subwoofer does not deliver the sensation of motion.
The answer, two technology breakthroughs made this past decade in home theater which allow the experiencing of low frequencies and motion from lowest vibrations of an earthquake, to the bumps in the road when driving, to the floating sensation of moving water.
Crowson Tactile Motion utilizes a technology referred to as Linear Direct-Drive. Instead of vibrating air, like a subwoofer, or employing a piston that vibrates inside housing that indirectly transfers the shaking sensation to a chair, Linear Direct Drive transfers sonic vibrations directly through the chair itself via its feet, which is similar to techniques used in direct hearing via human bone conduction. For more details, check out the Crowson Technology Website.
D-Box Motion Control employs a motion controller and actuators that are tied into pre-programed motion cues placed on a CD, Hard Drive, and more recently an increasing number of Blu-ray Discs. The motion controller tells the motion actuators to move in accordance with motion cues, including motion and tactile sensations of road bumps, explosions, impacts, and vehicle yaw and pitch.
D-box technology is applicable to several types of motion actuator devices including a platform that can be placed under any chair or couch, a home theater chair that has built-in actuators, or a "cockpit" type chair for gaming use.
For more details, check out the D-box Website. D-Box motion codes are now being included in many new Blu-ray Disc releases for home viewing, and D-Box motion chairs are starting to appear in an number of movie theaters.
Final Take
There you have it, my perspective on the top advances in home theater for the first decade of the 21st Century.
Of course, the technologies and products listed in this article are not the only advances made in home theater over the past decade, other technologies contributing to the continued evolution of home theater include 120Hz screen refresh rates for LCD TVs, increased used of Wireless connectivity, incorporation of Satellite Radio into home theater receivers, and the development of whole system and whole house remote control systems.
In addition, technologies that made some inroads during this past decade, but still need more development for full fruition and acceptance, include OLED TV, 3DTV, and HD Radio.
Also, for those of you that think I left out LCD and Plasma Televisions, as well as Home Theater Receivers, those technologies, although advanced greatly during this past decade, were already on the scene by the mid-to-late 1990's.
However, these are only my opinions, what do you think were the most important developments in home theater over the past decade? I invite all to comment with your own picks...
Robert Silva for About.com - 12/4/2009
