WHDI stands for wireless home digital interface. Much like WiFi networks enable computers and other electronic components to be connected together, WHDI does essentially the same thing, but with high-definition video signals. It enables a wireless, high-definition signal to be sent to many different displays located throughout the home.
WHDI has a number of advantages. For example, those wishing to hang a flat-screen television on a wall would need to run the wires behind the wall in order to keep them from view and make it look aesthetically pleasing. Doing so often requires a lot of difficult work behind the walls. Many may not have the time or expertise to do such work.
With WHDI, there will be no need to run wires, as the television will be able to receive a wireless signal from a router or modem. These signals will have an effective range, it is thought, similar to what WiFi does at approximately 150 feet (50 meters), enabling nearly ever television, or any type of monitor capable of displaying video. Thus, there is no need to run cables throughout the home as is commonly done to receive cable signals to different portions of the home.
Some of the most recognizable names in the consumer electronics industry are involved in the development of WHDI. In the summer of 2008, a partnership was announced between Sony, AMIMON, Hitachi, Motorola, Samsung and Sharp to help further WHDI research. These companies feel WHDI will provide yet another advantage over traditional technologies currently in place.
Though there has been a substantial interest created in WHDI, it has yet to generate a substantial market presence. The main reason for this is that the technology has not developed to a point where it is available in many mainstream consumer products. When it does, it is estimated the feature will cost an additional $800 US Dollars over comparable models without wireless technology.
The largest problem to overcome with WHDI technology is determining how to transmit the high-resolution video without losing quality. Transmitting video at resolutions of 720p or 1080p can be very difficult to do, especially in an uncompressed format such as that required by WHDI. The transmission can result in loss of color, sharpness, or both. While the technology is there to compensate for these things, as evidenced by the fact that high definition images are transmitted over the air currently, providing it at a price acceptable to the mass market is more difficult.