Technology / Television (TV) Glossary

Historical World (Historical Reality): The reality that is processed, selected, ordered, and interpreted by nonfiction television programs.

Horizonal Sync Frequency: The number of times per the number of times per electron beam can trace a pattern like this

Horizontal Frequency: The inverse of the time it takes for a monitor to scan from the beginning of one line to the beginning of the next line: typically stated in kilohertz.

Households Using Television (HUT): The percentage of all television households in a survey area with one or more sets in use during a specific time period.

Hue: A specific color from within the visible spectrum of white light: e.g., red, green, blue.

Hypercardioid Microphone: A highly unidirectional microphone, for which the pickup pattern is narrower than that of a cardioid microphone. So-called 'shotgun' microphones have a hypercardioid pattern.

Hypodermic Needle Theory: An effects theory which purports that the viewer is passive, and directly and immediately affected by what he/she sees on television.

I-O: Input/output. Typically refers to sending information or data signals to and from devices. Often used in referring to video/audio component connections.

Icon: Generally speaking, an object that represents a theme or an aspect of the character or the like. In the specific context of semiotics, a type of sign, wherein the signifier physically resemb . . . View Full Definition

Iconography: The objects that signify character and themes of the narrative.

Ideological Criticism: An area of television criticism, concerned with class and gender representation, that studies society's competing discourses and the position of the individual within society.

IEEE 1394 (Firewire): A digital interface developed by the IEEE 1394 working group. Transports data at 100, 200, or 400 Mbps. Can be used to connect digital television devices together. IEEE 1394 data transfer ca . . . View Full Definition

Illusion Of Depth: The ability of the two-dimensional television image to create an illusion whereby space seems to recede into the image. A telephoto lens creates a small illusion of depth and a wide-angle le . . . View Full Definition

Impressions: Number of homes or individuals exposed to an advertisement or group of advertisements.

Improvisation: Technique of method acting style used mostly in rehearsal: the actor puts him/herself into the mind of the character, places the character into imagined situations and proceeds to invent dia . . . View Full Definition

Impulse Pay Per View (PPV): The ability to buy a particular program on a last-minute decision. Pushing the 'buy' button on the remote control instead of having to make a phone call.

Independent Station: Stations not affiliated with any network, usually refers to commercial stations only.

Indexical Sign (Index): In semiotics, a type of sign in which the signifier is physically caused by the signified. For example, where there is smoke, there is fire. Thus the signifier (smoke) is physically caused b . . . View Full Definition

Industry Standard: A term applied to a machine or format that is commonly used within a certain area of production.

Infomercial: A television commercial that is similar in appearance to a news program or talk show format, usually 30-minutes in length.

Interactive Mode: Type of television text in which the historical world is mixed with that of the video/film maker--according to Bill Nichols's approach to nonfiction television and film. This occurs in one o . . . View Full Definition

Interactive Television: An anticipated use of television with interactive content and enhancements, enabling the viewer to interact with the program. Interactive television, in theory, would enhance the entertainme . . . View Full Definition

Interconnect: Two or more cable systems distributing a commercial signal simultaneously, and offering a multiple system buy in which only one contract need be negotiated. Interconnects can be hard, where . . . View Full Definition

Interior Scenes: Scenes set inside, in particular on studio sets, though also including location interiors.

Interlace: The method of presenting a video display a half picture at a time, showing only every other line at a time. PAL and NTSC video standards for television employs an interlaced signal.

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