Temporal vs. Spatial Resolution: Comparative Tests for Broadcast Sports

Abstract

This paper details the results of a study initiated to determine, in fast-moving televisual environments (primarily sports), whether an increase in spatial or temporal resolution delivers an actual increase in detail. Our findings indicate that an increase in temporal resolution yields much finer details than an increase in spatial resolution (with the exception of very static shots). For sports, higher shutter speeds, associated with superior frame rates, capture significantly more detail than lower-frame-rate/higher-spatial-resolution options. Whenever motion is involved, the difference in detail has shown to be dramatic, even with a relatively low amount of motion on the screen. These developments provide objective evidence of the need to prioritize increases in temporal resolution for displays and content delivery, as well as suggesting alternate uses of increased efficiency codecs by trading spatial resolution for temporal resolution to provide a better overall user experience when dealing with content that includes motion.