Retina+Displays

= Retina Displays = toc A display that smoothes the edges of pixels in an effort to produce a high-quality image on mobile devices. Retina displays have particularly improved text images which tend to be more curved than other images in general. The iPhone4 and the 4th generation iPod touch both have retina displays that have a resolution of 326 pixels per inch, about the same as the human eye. This means that images viewed on a retina display do not have problems with pixellation or jagged edges as other types of displays do. The retina display is the latest advancement of digital representation of text. It is an improvement upon the current reflective displays (see eInk and Trans-reflective LCD) in that it produces high definition scalable text at resolutions that have not been possible up to now. Retina displays are spreading to other technologies following the success that Apple has enjoyed with it.

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Why does it Matter?
Retina displays offer numerous opportunities to all types of information centers. As they spread to other technologies, the overall quality of digital formats will improve dramatically. Museums and Archives in particular stand to gain a great deal from the retina display. As the trend toward digital archiving moves forward, files accessed with retina displays will be in high demand. One of the primary arguments against digital archiving is that there is always some original quality lost in the archival process. The improved ability to view high definition representations will encourage users to more readily accept digital access in lieu of physical examination. It will also enable more users to access information that is useful to them. Displays continue to improve and are starting to rival the printed page. Some people feel that digital access will replace printed media entirely as the technology continues to advance.

**References**
Brandrick, C. (2010, June 23). iPhone 4's Retina Display Explained. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/198201/iphone_4s_retina_display_explained.html.

Costello, S. (2011). What is retina display?. Retrieved from http://ipod.about.com/od/ipodiphonehardwareterms/g/retina-display-glossry.htm.

Retinger, J. (2010, June 23). Iphone 4: retina display. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3GuZkyInqU&feature=related.