An emerging technology, high-definition television (HDTV) is expected to have dramatic effects on the communication and entertainment industries as well as on education and training methods, advertising, medicine, and other fields. With over 1,400 entries, this annotated bibliography allows the researcher to trace the development of the technology and to identify the economic, sociopolitical, and psychosocial issues raised by the advent of HDTV. Entries are arranged chronologically within topical chapters, providing both an organized method for tracking key issues and a point of departure for historical analysis.

The book opens with a description of the general development of high-definition television. It then turns to the work of the Japanese and the Europeans, followed by a chapter on the work of the Americans. Chapter 4 covers the socioeconomic implications of HDTV, and chapter 5 is devoted to the development of standards. Articles on HDTV, film, and related program production appear in chapter 6, while chapter 7 covers HDTV and alternative delivery systems, including DBS, cable, and fiber optics. Notes on the journals cited, as well as an index, are also included.