Next-Generation Optical Media:
Introduction
Next-generation DVDs, sometimes called “high definition” or “high
density media,” have been under development for almost 10 years. Looking
back at optical disc history, the killer application for CDs was music;
for DVDs, it was video; and for the approaching next-generation optical
disc, it will be high-definition video content and large-scale data storage.
These products will use blue or violet lasers to burn smaller pits on narrower
tracks, enabling the user to store massive amounts of data.
The FCC has mandated broadcasters to switch to digital broadcasts by 2009. This
will establish the need for an optical disc to hold high-definition content
exceeding the 4.7-GB (single-layer) or 8.5-GB (double-layer) capacity of
today’s media. Current DVD capacities are still not enough
to hold a high-definition full-length motion picture using today’s
DVD MPEG-2 compression scheme. The new blue laser discs will support
the same video compression schemes: H.264, MPEG-2, and VC-1.
None of the next-generation optical discs will work with existing DVD
players or computer DVD ROM drives, but all of the new blue laser hardware
will include laser systems that make them backward-compatible with CDs
and DVDs.
We can see usage ranging from commercial applications like medical (complete
patient records including high-resolution cat scans, x-rays, etc.) to massive
data archives, utilizing jukeboxes, to provide several petabytes of storage.
Consumers can also benefit from this technology. With the FCC mandate
directing all broadcasters to begin digital broadcasting in 2009, those
consumers with HD TVs and systems to receive this content will be able
to record, in true high definition and play it back on their HD TVs. It
still remains to be seen if the broadcasters will broadcast pure 720p or
1080i content and allow it to be written to any disc format.
Next Page
cdr / cdrw faqs
