A few years ago, a friend purchased a "high definition" television. Watching an old film (a color film), the picture was incredibly sharp and detailed. Almost too much so.

You could see the patterns on the plates and other details that would have been obscured in the past. It was unsettling to see make up on the faces of the actors and the grime that had been rubbed and smudged on the wall to make the paint look aged.

Using older technology, none of these imperfections would have been noticeable.