Aspect Ratio

The ratio between an image's width and it's height.

Common Interface

A Slot for the conditional access module (cam)

Conditional Access Module (CAM)

A module that allows smart cards to be used to access pay TV services.

Co-ax

Cable for RF aerial signals.

Component Video

High quality analogue video connection, video transmitted via three wires, each wire carrying the seperate red, green and blue parts that make up a picture.

Composite Video

Low quality analogue video connection.

Contrast Ratio

Difference in brightness between the TVs whitest white to its blackest black.

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

How traditional TVs created a picture using electrons

Divx

Compression of video files with low loss picture quality.

Dual Layer

DVD discs with almost double the capacity of writeable discs.

Digital Video (DV)

Format used by many camcorders.

DVD Audio

High quality sound.

Digital Video Interface (DVI)

Socket used to transmit HDTV signals, sockets must provide HDCP to display HDTV.

Electronic Progrmming Guide (EPG)

On screen TV scheduler

Freesat

Free to view TV Package via satellite

Freeview

Free digital terrestrial system.

Full HD

Difinition given to HD ready TVs that can display signals transmitted using 1080P. TV sets will have a resolution of 1920 X 1080

High Definition DVD (HD DVD)

DVD that is capable of storing up to 30 gigabyte of data.

High Definition Copy Protection (HDCP)

System that prevents the copying of hi-def programmes.

Hard Disk Drive

In built storage used in computers, DVD recorders and PVR's.

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

Socket used for connecting up Home cinema, DVD's etc. Video and Audio carried in same cable.

HD Ready

Logo to show that TVs are capable of accepting hi-def signals.

High Definition TV (HDTV)

TVs are capable of accepting hi-def broadcasts and playing hi-def DVDs.

Integrated Digital TV (IDTV)

TV with a built in digital tuner and a CAM slot for pay TV services

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

Layers of crystals used to create colour images.

MP3

Digital audio file.

NICAM

Digital stereo sound used for terrestrial TV broadcasts.

NTSC

Analogue TV system used in United States.

Optical Digital Audio

A way of transmitting digital surround sound via an optic fibre cable.

PAL

Analogue TV system as used in UK and Europe.

Pixels

Dots that make up the image on a flatscreen display .

Plasma

Flatscreen display that uses gas filled bulbs to produce a picture .

Personal Video Recorder (PVR)

A recorder that uses an internal hard drive to record programmes.

Resolution

Amount of detail that can be shown onscreen, resolution is expressed using 2 numbers which relate to the number of pixels shown horizontally and vertically.

RF Input

Aerial input for terrestrial signals.

RGB

Red, green and blue are the three colours used to make up the picture.

Scart

21 pin connector to carry analogue audio and video signals.