While viewers may initially think that even higher resolutions would result in larger screens in already cramped living rooms, that is not the case. Higher resolutions could bring a more immersive experience to the home theater as viewers enjoy a wider field of view watching 4K video.

The simple way to understand this is to think of today’s personal computer monitors where the viewing distance is typically 18- to 24-inches for a 27-inch, 1080p monitor. If the resolution of that monitor is set to 640-by-480 pixels (standard definition TV resolution), the picture is not very sharp or pleasing. On the other hand, the picture looks fantastic if the resolution is set to 1920-by-1080 (2K) pixels.

This concept applies to television and theaters as well. Consumers should be able to sit close to a 4K television enjoying a wider field of view and a more immersive experience.

The recommended viewing distances shown in the diagram are based on the picture resolution and the height (H) of the picture.