DVD

1995

Suggested by John

DVDs are similar in size and appearance to a compact disc or CD-ROM. What makes them different is that they hold a lot more information than a CD, everything from massive computer programs to full-length movies.

One person did not create DVD technology. It wasn't even invented by one company. It took many companies and their employees to make DVD a reality.

When DVDs were first being developed, different companies supported two different types of DVD technology. The DVD debate was similar to the VHS versus Beta battle for the video cassette recorder in the early 1980s. Developers were worried that the DVD market would be split in two, like the VCR formats were.

Computer companies demanded that DVD manufacturers agree on a single DVD standard. Ten of the world's biggest electronics, TV, computer and entertainment companies worked together to create this DVD format. In September of 1995, they announced the creation of the new DVD format. Many experts believe the agreement between companies allowed for a better DVD because the strengths of the two technologies were combined.

John sent CBC4Kids his vision of where DVD is headed in the future:

"Eventually DVD players could morph into futuristic set-top boxes that would let you listen to music, play games, watch TV and movies and surf the Web, all on one digital screen. Plus with DVD you don't have to worry about space for your videos. These little discs don't take up much space. Now you'll have room for more things."




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