Comments on: THX hears the call of consumer electronics

The pioneering audio company founded by George Lucas is working on an entertainment system that automatically adjusts settings for optimum playback.
Photos: Getting the THX thumbs-up
Video: Turning up the volume

[acpryor]

Where's the info on Blackbird?

Interesting article but you never go on to discuss Blackbird and why "it will change the industry" as THX is intending to do? What is it? Why is it great? Where is the development? Etc... You give a little history on THX and discuss their new 2.1 system but I was hoping for more on the whole Blackbird technology. Perhaps there's a page 2 missing or I didn't see?

[bearcat51]

Where is Tomlinson Holman?

Lucas was the driving force, but Tomlinson Holman was the technical brains for the development of THX.
The article never mentioned him.
That is a major oversight.

[chassoto--2008]

He's the "TH" in THX :)

He runs his own company (TMH Corp.). I had the pleasure of
meeting him and working with his crew (okay, bugging them
more than helping) during a demonstration of their 10.2 system
in a theater on campus:

http://www-scf.usc.edu/~bseo/photo/AustinDemo/
sep_2004.html

It was very cool. These guys are brilliant.

The only issue - I don't see that 10.2 is "necessary." Better?
Sure. Innovative? Definitely. But given all the variables in a
theatrical space, I'd spend my money first on "fixing" the "low
tech" issues that THX certification often entails. Most venues
aren't "good enough" for 10.2 to make a difference.

BTW, it was interesting to see the whole shebang is basically a
lot of nice audio gear tied up to a PC (possibly with a DSP farm -
I forgot exactly what the digital connections were). There's no
such thing as a "Super Audio 10.2 CD" or whatever...

Charles

[higuchem]

Already seeing THX in products.

You can already see it in products such as Tivo S3, so does that
mean this is something completely different then?

[10-inch-tdizzle]

THX Video Certification

What you are seeing with the Tivo S3, and the Vidikron/Runco (same company) projectors is a THX Video Certification. This is similar to a THX Ultra Audio Certification - only it's obviously related to the video portion of the content.

Apparently, not only is "the audience listening", but they're watching too :).

Blackbird looks more like another layer - like a method of doing things with the content - much like what THX did with the audio tracks (the audio had to be mixed a certain way for a movie to be "THX certified").

[joelsilverman]

Where is Tom Holman

Tom is at TMHLabs.com

[vertebra67]

THX- All that is needed...

I would like a remote eye to be able to optimally set up the displays picture. Similar to how Pioneer
uses the MCACC for sound.

[10-inch-tdizzle]

Use ISF not THX

You should have an ISF technician calibrate your display. A product like a DataColor "spyder" is available to do a basic display calibration yourself.

[Jenifer Simpson]

what about a disability accessible interface for home electronics

How about building in software so that all consumer electronic devices used to receive or display video programming that simultaneously transmit sound are designed, developed, and fabricated to allow people with disabilities to control, through non-visual and other means accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, the receipt, display, navigation and selection of video and other programming. In short, (1) what's so hard about making menus have audio output for blind people and that can be operated with ONE quick button on a -- ONE-- remote control? And (2) How about short cut buttons for features commonly used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing (such as ONE button for closed captioning instead of the nightmare of current menus where no one can ever find where the captioning turn-on is controlled or how to adjust the fonts and colors if you have color blindness or other vision limitations); and (3) if manufacturers don't start making USABILITY of equipment a priority, sales are going to be affected (downward). With more and more Americans aging, USABILITY and ACCESSIBILITY are becoming more and more important.
Jenifer Simpson
American Association of People With Disabilities
Washington, DC

[10-inch-tdizzle]

Talk to the CEA

Your group, the ADA, and AARP should combine your efforts to lobby the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the Internation Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF), the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), and EVERY movie studio and TV production house on the planet (otherwise the content might not be done right) - to do what you're asking. I'd also recommend lobbying Congress and the FCC since they hold the keys to this lock. This is a big challenge that I would not lay at the feet of THX (it's not their fault, so they shouldn't be tasked with fixing this).

Don't think I'm being rude or not getting your point - I used to do complex Home Theater installations for people who didn't understand technology (let alone with a disability on top of that), I'm half deaf and so's my girlfriend. I still know how to use the "subtitle" button on my DVD player remote (and I do for most movies) - but my cable box's CC feature has been "broken" since I got it (that would be a Motorola 3412 with Comcast in case you want to "flame" them) so I can never get sub-titles on Cable-TV.

Just understand that in order to standardize an interface, control scheme, and Text-to-Speach menu reading system for On Screen Displays (OSD) to help the blind - you'll need to have to present a complete plan, and every CE company will have to use the exact same scheme (with no "optional" functions). This still won't fix people not understanding how things work - this is a technology training issue (the marketing people of the CE industry are to blame for this). Also keep in mind that a lot of CE companies percieve their User Interface to be proprietary and actually a differentiation/selling point - so forcing them to change is going to be VERY painful especially if your are trying to force an non-US CE company to comply with your specification (this is why I suggest the FCC and Congress - you'll have to affect their bottom line negatively BEFORE they'll spend the effort to change).

[mborgens]

Interesting point, but . . .

You raise an interesting point, but this release has nothing to do
with interface.

And, before you or anyone else cries foul, I am disabled and have
worked for people with disabilities for over 25 years.

[TheBluePointe]

Just because it isn't THX doesn't mean it wouldn't pass.

THX is a great idea, but it doesn't mean you're getting the best. Plenty of components (professional and consumer) far exceed THX specifications, but cost significantly less because they don't have to pay THX to say they meet or exceed those specs.