The BBC has unveiled the plans to utilise super hi-vision technology - designed to offer picture quality that is 16 times better than high definition (HD) - for its coverage of London 2012.

Roger Mosey, director of London 2012 at the BBC, revealed the broadcaster will use the service to show parts of the Games on three 50-foot screens that are set to be installed in public spaces across the country.

Super hi-vision screens, specially built in Japan, will be erected at the BBC's Pacific Quay building in Glasgow, Broadcasting House in London and – subject to negotiations – the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Super hi-vision coverage will not be available to home viewers as existing household digital television sets - even HD models - are not advanced enough to support the boosted pixel signal.

It is believed that home televisions will support the service in around ten years' time.

It is expected that the technology, which takes advantage of a single camera to capture a wide shot, will be used to broadcast the Opening Ceremony at London.

Some live action from the Olympics may also be screened.

Mosey said the BBC trialed the technology last year to prove it could successfully work by broadcasting a Charlatans concert and the Scottish taekwondo team to its Japanese broadcasting partner NHK.

According to Mosey, super hi-vision has the ability to surpass 3D in terms of popularity over the coming years.

"When you sit and watch it you really get the experience of being in seat D5 in the stadium," he said.

"Super hi-vision might be a better long-term prospect than 3D in some ways as it gives you the feel of being in the stadium.

"People are knocked out by it."

The debut of super hi-vision is part of a tradition of trialing new television technology at the Olympics.

Mosey said the BBC led the way delivering the "first properly televised" Olympic Games when they were hosted in London in 1948.

The Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 was the first to use HD cameras.

However, it was not until Beijing in 2008 that the BBC first broadcast in HD.

Earlier this month, Mosey announced plans for the broadcaster to extend the operating hours of digital TV channel BBC Three during the Olympics, enabling the station to offer daytime coverage of the event.

Both BBC One and BBC Three will deliver live sporting content from the start of the morning sessions onwards.

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