Short for
High-Definition Multimedia Interface,
it is the first industry-supported uncompressed, all-digital audio/video
interface. It's a single cable and user-friendly connector that replaces the
maze of cabling behind the home entertainment center. HDMI provides an interface
between any audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, or A/V
receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (
DTV),
over a single cable. HDMI supports
standard,
enhanced, or
high-definition
video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It transmits all ATSC
HDTV standards and supports 8-channel digital audio with bandwidth to spare to
accommodate future enhancements and requirements.
[Source: Adapted from
HDMI.org]
HDMI was defined to carry 8 channels, of 192kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio,
which exceeds all current consumer media formats. In addition, HDMI can carry
any flavor of compressed audio format such as Dolby or DTS. HDMI has the
capacity to support existing high-definition video formats such as 720p, 1080i,
and 1080p, along with support of enhanced definition formats like 480p, as
well as standard definition formats such as NTSC or PAL.
HDMI was developed by Developed by Sony, Hitachi, Thomson (RCA), Philips,
Matsushita (Panasonic), Toshiba and Silicon Image.
