THE DIGITAL PAPERCHASE

by: Dakota Caudilla

Closed captioning is sometimes called, for short, ‘CC’. Closed captioning is a type of method that embeds written text into videos to help those who are deaf or hard of hearing to enjoy a movie or video. Closed captioning is also widely used to help those who are first learning how to read in a language. Together with the audio/video they are watching, they are also learning how to read from the closed captioning they can see on the screen. This method has been proven to be a very effective way in teaching a language.

Sometimes, closed captioning is not verbatim, meaning word for word. The wordings for closed captioning may not be precise but the meaning is always the same. Some people don’t know how to make the difference between ‘subtitles’ and ‘closed captioning’. Subtitles are different because the text will merely tell you what is being said on the video/audio part. They won’t tell you who said it and what other things (auditory) are going on. Closed captioning will not only tell you what is being said on the screen, but it will also tell you who said it and what other sounds can be heard before and after that.

Example;

Subtitles : What are you doing here? I thought you’d gone to the movies?

Closed captioning: Sarah: (gasp) What are you doing here? (door slams in the background). I thought you’d gone to the movies?

Since closed captioning is beneficial to the less fortunate members of society, the Government (particularly the Department of Education) grants loans to those who interesting in closed captioning their videos, presentations and other audio/video materials. In fact, the Government encourages closed captioning to the extent that in 1998, it became a law that all television programs in the United States should be closed captioned. Close captioning all movies and shows on television will benefit a large part of the American society; this is the view of the US government.

There are, generally speaking, three different methods of displaying closed captioning on TV. The roll up closed captioning version will display one line at a time and when there’s no more space, the entire batch of text moves up, removing the first line and replacing the new line at the bottom. The pop-up close captioning display style is when the entire line of words comes up at the same time. When there’s new text to be displayed, the previous text is completely erased. The paint-on closed captioning style is a way of displaying text one word at a time, anywhere on the screen. There’s no need to erase or roll-up the line of words to make way for the next line.

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by: David Johnson

Directv’s debut in 1994 turned out to be an auspicious entry into the satellite television market. With a variety of options in programming, some cable subscribers opted for satellite and now more and more are doing so, while others are taking the next technological step by purchasing Directv’s HD receivers as well.

And with the FCC handing down a decision to convert all television to high definition format, commonly known as HD, by 2006, content providers, cable and satellite companies like Directv are in full swing with marketing programs to sell their HD receivers. HD is broadcast digitally at a higher resolution for better picture quality. In the past high definition television used to be a term referred to newer technology in the 1930s that replaced experimental television technology at the time.

Currently, a Directv HD receiver can cost in the five hundred to six hundred dollar range on the cheap side and well over a thousand dollars for higher end receivers. Electronics manufacturers like Hughes, Samsung and others are all touting their HD receivers now for their features, but prices are still a little high, as well as for HD television sets, which average in price over one thousand five hundred dollars

Much has been made of the high definition issue of late and those with a more pessimistic mindset toward HD, some refer to them as hardcore analogue-ers, don’t think a full conversion to HD will be done in time. Even now, those who may purchase an HD receiver are limited to those providers, or television stations or networks that provide content in HD, which some say is up to five times sharper than regular television.

But while Directv has done its part by offering HD receivers, customers recently have complained about the exorbitant price of an HD and Tivo combination receiver, which rings in at a thousand dollars when purchasing it from Directv, a hard pill to swallow for those who may have already spent five hundred to a thousand dollars on a Directv HD receiver to begin with. Tivo allows customers to records hours of television without needing a VHS tape or DVD burner. For the time being some customers are buying a separate Tivo unit and hooking it into their current Directv HD receiver, unfortunately sacrificing some picture quality along the way.

But many customers feel that in time, as with the prices of plasma screen televisions, the Tivo and Directv HD receiver combination will come down in price. So for now, the best bet for those with their Directv HD receivers may be to wait. In time, not only will there be more HD content, but also more affordable receiver options. Standard Directv HD Receivers will likely go down in price as well, along with those with the added Tivo option.

Sources:
http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/history/topic/182395-1.html
http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2005/04/directvs_hd_pro.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDTV
http://www.chartercom.com/products/hdtv/hdtv.aspx
http://www.kaptainsatellite.com

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by: Amy Metz

I want a larger screen and so do you. There is absolutely no reason for this wanting except for the feeling of power that a large screen gives you. I have no idea why it is, but we all seem to want a larger screen for our TVs these days. The question is, how to get a good deal on an LCD TV without paying a fortune. Let’s give you our top 3 tips on buying an LCD TV.

1)Don’t buy a used one if you don’t have to. The funny thing about these TVs is that their prices drop significantly every month and that if you just wait a little longer, the price you’ll pay for a new TV is probably not going to be too far off from the price that you are going to pay for a used one. A little patience might actually save you some dollars here.

2)Compare features, not just prices. One of our favorite places to go to compare prices on LCD Tvs is ConsumerReports.org. Consumer Reports was rating different items way before the internet even become popular. Remember buying your first real car? I do. And I went straight to Consumer Reports to find out that the Honda Accord was the car to buy (and still is according to CR). Shopping for a high end LCD Tv shouldn’t be any different than shopping for a new car. All the resources are at your disposal, so give it a try. I’m sure you can find some gems of information at CR regarding your LCD Tv purchase.

3)HD is coming, don’t miss out. High definition television has allegedly been “right around the corner” for years. Well, that time may finally have arrived. Some LCD Tvs come HD ready and some do not. Make sure your new LCD TV supports HD so that when it is finally popularized, you can watch the programs utilizing this latest technology.

And by the way, why would someone want to buy an LCD TV over a “Plasma”. And what is a plasma? Are they different than LCDs? Basically yes. The big difference is that they use different technologies to deliver a picture. Both have pros and cons. However, both deliver a large screen experience to the user.

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