[mythtv-users] Legibility from the sofa

[Andre Newman]

On 11 Feb 2010, at 12:03, Robin Hill wrote:

> On Thu Feb 11, 2010 at 12:50:50PM +0100, Corne Beerse wrote:
> 
>> In the 'normal/old' tv time, there was a guideline for the optimal 
>> tv-size in relation to the viewing distance. With a glass-eye distance 
>> of 4 to 5 times the (4:3) display diameter, you have the optimum 
>> performance: nice view at the details (with pal/ntsc) but not to close 
>> (for its 'radiation').
>> 
>> I wonder what those figures are these days. I see appartments that are 
>> barely 4 meters wide having a screen in the size of the 'night watch by 
>> R.v. Rijn'. (read: almost the entire wall). so the screen-eye distance 
>> is about 3 meters with a 1.5 meters diameter...
>> 
> Yes, they've rejigged those figures for DVD/HDTV - the suggested range
> now is 1.5 to 3 times the 16:9 size.  For examples, see
> http://www.cnet.com/hdtv-viewing-distance/ 

That's right for HDTV, if you watch it "seriously" there's plenty who have HDTV and still use it as a noise with flicker in the corner!

The viewing distances come down from Cinema screen sizes of old.

>> 
>> You need a bigger TV?
>>     
> Our largest is 28" - we're just not "big TV" people. We used a
> cardboard template to see what was the largest we could tolerate in the
> living room and 28" was it.

Or you could do what  do, have no TV in the room at all! I have a projector so no big ugly TV dominating the room, when it's turned off that is, no screen just a painted wall. It was my girlfriend's (at the time) suggestion and it works really well for me, I only watch specific shows (that MythTV has found and recorded for me) it's not such a good idea if you are the type(s) to leave the TV on randomly. Great for photo "slide" shows too, some photographer friends coming over tonight to see their latest shots on the big screen.

You will find that the Myth themes are all a big huge though :-)

Best thing is it's themeable and you don't have to be a programmer to fix it, so looks like I'll be working on a theme for really big screens and Ian working on one for really small ones.

Andre