For that High Definition Multimedia Interface experience

Vipin Bajaj - Televisionpoint.com | Mumbai
Have you ever wondered what makes the picture on your Plasma TV so much more fine-tuned than the one on the box that you used when you watched The XFiles in the mid-90s? Or been awed by the infinite possibilities of the Play Station, which makes even game backgrounds, such as sunsets, so lifelike?

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is no longer a discussion topic, but has become a reality of our day-to-day life. From television sets to gaming devices, the technology is steadily becoming the new essential. Though HDMI as a technology is relatively young in India, it has quickly become the interface of choice for Blu-ray players, flat panel HD televisions, video-game consoles and even PCs.

HDMI enables the delivery of uncompressed, all-digital audio and video of HD quality via a single cable. By delivering crystal clear, all-digital audio and video, HDMI simplifies cabling and helps provide consumers high quality home theatre experience.

Since Digital Visual Interface (DVI), the technology which introduced video digitisation to the world evolved into HDMI, the interface has grown to be included in more than 70 per cent of digital televisions sold worldwide in 2007 and is consolidating its domination of DVD players and digital set-top-boxes.

What makes it integral to tomorrow's consumer electronics devices is the simplification of the set-up and higher quality of experience that it affords through better viewing angle, improved resolution and superior sound.

Speaking to Televisionpoint.com, UN Vasudev, marketing manager, technology solutions, Tektronics, says, "The richer colours, incorporation of digitised audio, faster refresh rates and content protection capabilities make HDMI the heralder of a new generation of consumer electronics."

There are now more than 800 manufacturers in the world who have adopted HDMI as the dominant technology in their products. Philips, one of the founders of HDMI standard, which also includes Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic and Thomson, has recently opened an Authorised Testing Centre (ATC) in Bangalore, and has engaged the services of Tektronics, a test, measurement and monitoring services provider for the communications industry.

"India is an emerging super-power and demands are increasing in the consumer electronics space with growing affluence and growing awareness. The middle class is becoming the greatest market, and India, China and Asia-Pacific are the biggest consumers," explains Vasudev, about why India has been chosen as the destination for the 8th ATC in the world for HDMI.

At present, he adds, HDTVs are the most popular product using HDMI in India, and is a segment that is here to stay while it wasn't even heard of till three years back.

Jelle Rieske, senior director, consumer lifestyle, Philips Innovation Campus, tells Televisionpoint.com, "HDMI is growing to become the de facto standard for the transfer of high definition digital audio and video information between consumer electronic products. Since the awareness about the ease of use and quality offered by digital media is increasing exponentially in India, the level of penetration is very high."

A recent study by iSupply Corporation states HDMI-enabled equipment will grow to 772.8 million units in 2012, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32 per cent from 193 million units in 2007. Today, the technology is part of a range of aspects of life, from DTH to sports with the recent Beijing Olympic 2008 coverage in high definition.

Some of the DTH operators, like Reliance Big TV DTH, are offering set-top boxes with HD compatibility. Soon enough, says Vasudev, HDMI will become indispensable to mobile phones and laptops as well.