U.S. Behind Japan in HDTV, Report Says

The United States is behind Japan in development of high-definition television, a technology that could boost innovation in other industries, a report to Congress said Tuesday.

“Japan considers HDTV to be an important step into the future information society,” the Office of Technology Assessment said.

The agency, a research arm of Congress, said new consumer electronics have long spurred advances in other fields, such as data storage. High-definition television promises motion picture-quality images and compact disc-quality sound. Proponents say its development could help re-energize the U.S. electronics and computer industries.

The Japanese have been selling studio equipment for high-definition television since 1984 and are gearing up for production of HDTV sets for consumers, the report said.