DVD Technology

DVD, which alternately means Digital Video Disk or Digital Versatile Disk, was founded in 1995 as a successor to the Video Home System (VHS), and in some respects the Compact Disc (CD). In 1993, two different formats at the time, the Multimedia Compact Disc (MMCD) and the Super Density (SD) disk, were being poised against each other to overcome the VHS format. With companies such as Sony and Toshiba separating themselves on which formats to support and produce, a war similar to that between VHS and Betamax years prior was beginning to ensue, and computer companies such as Apple and IBM began to take notice. In an effort to end a similar dispute from reoccurring, Computer software companies joined together to boycott the industry, stating they would not use either formats being produced by the companies unless they were able to come up with one single one. Both sides agreed to make one single format, and from this the DVD. In 1997, DVD video was finally mass marketed to the United States as a high quality alternative to VHS.

The DVD, in comparison to the VHS or the CD, is an optical format able to hold extensive amounts of data, such as a feature length film, because it uses a 650 nm laser diode as opposed to the 780 nm of a CD, allowing for greater capacity. Also, the DVD is able to record on dual layers, meaning information can be recorded to either side of the disc. DVD, especially in comparison to VHS, also provides better sound and picture quality that doesn’t fade. Other options include language selection, cutting to scenes, bonus features, and multi-angle selection, all of which VHS has never been able to provide in one single package.

Throughout the years as DVD players have become smaller and less costly to produce due to their growing popularity, they’ve also begun to overtake the rental and sales of VHS as early as 2003. The DVD format has gained the status of being a standard, yet its staying power remains to be seen as the emergence of more advance high-definition formats in the market, such as the Blu-Ray disc in 2006, are gaining momentum.


Posted By: Rob Goodman

Sources:

Bakalis, Anna. (2003). It’s Unreel: DVD Rentals Overtake Video Casettes. The Washington Times. Retrieved from http://washingtontimes.com/news/2003/jun/20/20030620-113258-1104r/?page=2.

Wempen, Faithe. (2001). Build Your Skills: A Comparison Between DVD and CD-Rom. Tech Republic. Retrieved from http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1047035.html.

Markoff, John. (1995). Business Technology; a Battle for Influence Over Insatiable Disks. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/11/business/business-technology-a-battle-for-influence-over-insatiable-disks.html.

Image retrieved from http://www.vidcam.com.au/copy/index.html.

Technology. (n.d.). DVD Forum. Retrieved from http://www.dvdforum.org/forum.shtml