DVD -- an acronym for Digital Versatile Disc
or Digital Video Disc -- is the next generation
of optical storage technology. It is faster
than a CD-ROM and has more storage capacity.
A DVD-ROM can store up to 17GB of data on a
single DVD disc. It can hold computer data,
audio, as well as video. DVD is aimed at encompassing
home entertainment, computers, business information
and gaming into one digital format. It is expected
to eventually replace audio CD, videotape, laserdisc,
CD-ROM and game cartridges. DVD has widespread
support from major electronics companies, major
computer manufacturers, and most major movie
and record studios. With this type of unprecedented
support, DVD will likely succeed and become
the standard for digital media in the near future.
Industry sources estimate that by the year 2000,
DVD ROM drive manufacturers will ship over 60
million drives per year.
There are essentially two types of DVD available today. A consumer "set
top box" DVD connected to your TV. This type plays DVD video (movies)
on your TV. A computer DVD, or DVD-ROM is much like your existing CD-ROM.
It is hooked up to you computer and is able to read DVD data, and play
interactive titles, or play DVD movies. DVD-ROM's are much more versatile
then the set-top box variety.
What does
a DVD look like?
A DVD-ROM disc looks just like a regular CD. Without an identifying
label, you can not tell them apart.
What are the main features of the DVD?
How much
data can a DVD-ROM disc hold? How is it possible?
Three advantages allow a DVD-ROM disc to store several times more data
than a CD-ROM disc:
Will I need
both CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives to allow me to use my current CD-ROM
discs?
No. All DVD-ROM drives
are backward compatible to CD-ROM. In other words, DVD-ROM drives can
read CD-ROM discs as well as CD-Audio.
Besides the
increased data storage, what else is special about DVD?
The special thing about DVD is that it was developed in conjunction
with the film industry. This co-development provides a common format
for pre-recorded movies and computer software. Each side of the disc
can hold over 2 hours of motion video (movies) with tremendous picture
quality surpassing analog laserdisc and digital satellite TV. DVD also
supports multi-channel Surround Sound audio such as Dolby Laboratory's
AC-3. With the added data storage capacity
and availability of motion video, DVD will revolutionize interactive
entertainment and educational software in the years to come.
Do I need
anything other than a DVD-ROM drive to read a DVD-ROM disc?
No. All you need to read a DVD-ROM disc is a DVD drive, BUT in order
to benefit from MPEG-2 video and AC-3
audio, you will require additional software or hardware. DVD movie titles
are encrypted, (movie industry insisted on encryption to prevent movie
piracy) therefore, you need to have special decryption mechanisms in
order to watch the movies. This could come in a form of a hardware decryption
chip or a software decryption algorithms.
E-mail comments to Lon Jarvis jarvislb@jmu.edu
last updated 3/17/00