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DVD Technology: Past, Present and Future

History of the DVD

DVDs, or Digital Video Discs, are a byproduct of the late 1990s, when a new digital age of ever-increasing computer storage began. Computer software companies quickly discovered that CD-ROMs can hold vast quantities of information, much more than floppy disks.

It wasn’t long before movie companies began seeing the CD as an obvious way to package their films. DVDs could produce movies with a clearer picture and sound than movies on VHS tapes.

The first DVDs hit the market in 1996, but it took a few years before the trend caught on. At that time, most households were dependent on the VCR for movie entertainment, and new DVD players were expensive. Individual DVDs were often expensive compared to VHS tapes as well. DVDs were then marketed as being filled with extra features that could not be found on VHS tapes.

As the demand grew for DVD players, so did the supply. DVDs have now completely replaced VHS as the standard movie format, just like CDs replaced vinyl LP records and cassette tapes in the music world. Now a new DVD player can be purchased for less than $100, and many DVDs are available at low prices as well.

One of the factors that led to additional sales in DVDs was the advent of the DVD-ROM on computers. Many new desktop and laptop models come with a DVD player or even a DVD recorder as a standard feature.

The successful sales of DVD-ROM drives for computers also led to greater sales of DVDs. In fact, certain DVDs were laced with footage that could only be accessed from computers and not from regular DVD players.

The DVD Recorder

DVD used to only exist only as a new format for movies, and it wasn’t long before every film became priced to own. This led to phenomenal movie sales, but many held onto their VCRs because they could not record their favorite TV shows onto their DVD players.

Because of this, many homes have since switched to DVD recorders, and others have downloaded free DVD recorders and free DVD software onto their computers.

DVD Recorders were expensive when they were first released, but the prices have gone down due to demand to record onto DVD. Many camcorders are now set up to record onto DVDs also, so any consumer can make home movies to be played on a DVD player.

DVD Formats

Advanced Optical Discs (AODs) are not as well known as their counterparts, and use the same 405nm Blu-Ray technology for a high storage capacity on both single-layer and dual-layer formats.
Blu-Ray Discs are so named because the laser being used is in the blue spectrum 405 nm wavelength instead of the red 650 nm. These discs have a greater capacity for storage.
HD-DVD can store two to four times the amount of data as a regular DVD. They are used for storing content recorded in High Definition.
DVD+R, or DVD-R, is a recordable DVD format that is somewhat limited. With DVD-R, you can record on the disc, but the recording is permanent.
DVD RAM discs can also be recorded and erased many times, but are only supported by DVD RAM format.
DVD+R DL, or DVD-R DL, is also known as Double Layer format. It uses two individual recordable layers on a single-sided DVD.
DVD-ROM was the first type of DVD to hit the market, and is a standard read-only format. Most movies are recorded in this particular format.
DVD+RW, or DVD-RW, is a re-recordable format, which can be recorded and erased many times.

The Future of DVDs

DVD technology is changing and advancing every day, and the future will no doubt bring newer applications. DVDs and players become easier to use and more commonplace all the time.

Many families have portable DVD players and car DVD player for long trips or to entertain kids and passengers, and other devices, such as video game consoles, can now play DVDs as well as games and CDs.

Whether or not DVDs will be replaced with Blu-Ray or another advanced technology is yet to be seen. If the past is any indicator, DVDs will be replaced by new technology at some point, but the transition will most likely be lengthy due to their popularity and widespread presence in society.

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