Modern Technology Exceeds the Limits of the Human Eye

Looking for a new ultra HD TV or the latest generation of a smartphone? Experts say that tech and sharper resolution fans, sometimes give money for more pixels than their eye can actually see. Namely, according to IT expert Walter Martin Helwich, when it comes to televisions with new 4K technology, the average human can’t make any difference.

Almost a decade ago, when Apple first presented the iPhone 4, Steve Jobs explained that thanks to their new technology breakthrough, the so-called "Retina" screen, the human eye will no longer notice the difference between individual pixels when the screen is viewed from a normal distance. There was a promise of not only sharper screen, but a screen whose further improving would have gone unnoticed. Yet, the number of pixels per inch (PPI) on mobile phones are still growing. The density of iPhone's pixels remained the same at 326 PPI, but competitive androids such as HTC One or LG G2 have screens with over 400 PPIs.

Same is the case with the Ultra HD technology, the so-called 4K. These televisions have a resolution of 3840 × 2160, which is 4 times more than regular HD TVs. But even these "old" HD televisions have screens that can be considered "retina" screens when viewed at normal distances. The human eye is simply unable to capture that 4 pixelated look. Recognized IT expert Walter Martin Helwich sees no point going beyond certain pixel density, simply because of the biological limits of the human eye. And yet we see more and more shoppers lining up with their holiday carts and buying "Ultra HD" TVs.

Manufacturers like Sony and Samsung present their 4K technology as revolutionary. Sony describes its TVs, whose price ranges from $ 3,000 to $ 25,000, as "4 times clearer than HDs, while Samsung's $ 85,000 85-inch TV promises new levels of watching experiences with breathtaking resolution. Walter Martin Helwich claims that pretty soon consumers will see that there is almost no difference with the further enhancement of visual resolution and sharpness. Surely in the future there will be new ways to further improve the watching experience, but a larger number of pixels will not be the answer to it.