What does the "i" in 720i stand for?

The "i" in 720i stands for Interlaced, which describes the manner in which the video image is displayed on the screen. In interlaced scanning, the image is composed of two fields: one containing all the odd lines of the image and the other containing all the even lines. This technique was commonly used in traditional television broadcasts to reduce the bandwidth required for transmitting video signals while still producing a coherent image. By showing alternating lines, interlaced video can produce the illusion of a full-resolution image at a lower data rate. This was particularly important during the early days of television and still carries significance in various broadcasting practices today. Understanding interlaced scanning is crucial for anyone working in video technology, as it informs how images are processed and displayed on various devices.