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SvennoJ on 13 January 2014
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Untamoi said:

That chart is based on SMPTE 30. It sets the line at 60 pixels per degree before recommending a higher resolution. Now it's true that 20/20 vision is based on 30 cycles per degree resolution to be able to read text. But human visual acuity easily goes up to 40 or 50 cycles per degree and beyond. The point is not from what distance you can still make out the individual pixels, but from where you see a smooth life like picture.

Here's another chart from the absolute limits of human vision, to get pictures indistinguishable from looking out a window.


I doubt those results. I have played 720p and 1080p with my 40" TV from distance of around 7 feet and difference is very minimal. Actually, there have been a lot of people who have thought 720p is 1080p and 1080p is 720p. I'm sure that 99% of the people won't see any difference at all between 4K and 1080p on less than 40" screen at view distances more than 6 feet when most can't even see the difference between 720p and 1080p on same screen. Even for those 1% difference is extremely minimal.

Anyway, even 1080p is overhyped and 4K even more so. Sure, it might be the "future" but it will never be a must-have. 1080p is just fine even 10 years from now.

720p at 40" from 7ft is below 20/20 vision. The difference should be clear, especially if one is upscaled to 1080p and the other 1080p native.

The study was done with double blind tests, asking people which of 2 pictures feels more real. It's not a matter of can you make out the pixels, it's the point at which aliasing disappears altogether. I can see a clear difference in sharpness between watching 1080p at 60 pixels per degree (92" 1080p projector screen at 12ft) and 100 pixels per degree (52" 1080p at just over 11ft)

Anyway 360p you tube is also still fine, that doesn't mean an IMAX experience in your home isn't fun to have. It's all about field of view with the resolution to back it up. THX recommends a field of view of 40 degrees for the most immersive cinematic experience, which is 1.2 x diagonal viewing distance. That equates to 4ft from a 40" screen. 4K looks a lot nicer at that distance. With 1080p you're only at 46 pixels per degree at that distance.
(So yes if you want to sit at 7ft you need a 70" tv to get the full THX experience, at 12ft a 120" projector screen)

Just as with Occulus rift, you have to see it first to get convinced of the benefits.