Copyright (c) 2008 Titus Hoskins
For now, you've probably heard of Blu-ray or Blu-ray discs and players, but do you know how this technology high definition came to be born or developed? It's a fascinating story, with some important battles thrown in good measure, a story worth reading, even if you're not a high-tech junkie.
In order to truly understand Blu-ray, you have to go back to the early 80s when they introduced CD or compact discs. CDs were a giant step forward when compared to the media at present, especially because the CD that offers more storage capacity, better sound quality and quickly became the universal standard for pre-recorded, recordable and rewritable. CD had about 650 MB of storage capacity that was revolutionary at the time for data storage and retrieval.
However, no technology stops, especially when you consider our insatiable need for more compact storage and more quality images. Therefore, we had the introduction of DVD in the '90s, which saw an increase in the capacity of 5-10 X on the CD. The DVD enables high quality video distribution standard and high definition recording, not to mention larger data capacity application. Another key element of this smooth transition is that the DVD specification used the same factor as the CD that allowed full backwards compatibility. These factors are not lost in the development of the media next generation, this being the Blu-ray Disc. The beginning of the Blu-ray started in the Mid 90 's with the introduction of high definition televisions. Consumers soon realized that there was no media capable of recording or play high-definition content. There was no media could store high-definition codecs, with the exception of JVCs Digital VHS and Sony's HDCAM, but impractical, such as CD and DVD.
However, it is known that using lasers with shorter wavelengths would be able to create higher density optical storage. With this knowledge, Shuji Nakamura invented practical blue laser diodes. Its commercial use was delayed due to a patent claim, but eventually the Blu-ray and made available the next step in the evolution of storage media began.
The difference: The benefits of Blu-ray compared to DVD.
Despite Blu-ray discs are the same physical size of a DVD or CD, are able to store and read data much more. The reason behind this is to use a blue laser contrast with the red laser used by DVD and CD. The blue laser has a shorter wavelength, a smaller aperture lens and a thinner layer disc cover that makes it possible the creation of a smaller size spot of light that can store and read much more data on disk.
Of course, no discussion would be complete not to mention a very heated battle between the two opposing technologies: Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD. Each disc format have major backers behind Blu-ray is Sony, Dell, Hitachi, Hewlett-Packard, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung … HD-DVD support and we have Toshiba, NEC and some of the major movie studios Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.
While many believe that Blu-ray has won the battle and probably will become the dominant high definition technology. (Beta anyone?) The main argument being the storage space, since Blu-Ray offers 25 GB for single layer and 50GB dual-layer, as compared with the HD-DVD offered 15 GB single layer and 30GB dual layer.
This Blu-ray is the strongest playing card, a single layer Blu-ray can store 25 GB of data. This is compared to the 4.5 GB on a standard DVD. As mentioned earlier, a dual layer Blu-ray disc can hold 50 GB. This amount of storage allows the disk to capture an image of 1080p high definition. It has a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels scanned progressively. A standard DVD is 720 by 480 pixels. Another benefit of Blu-ray is that it has a bandwidth much larger than a DVD. It can produce signals at speeds of up to 48 Mbps This is 6 times faster than DVD's 8 Mbps
Moreover, remember the old DVD will not be obsolete, you can play Blu-ray DVDs. Blu-ray standard definition images can be normal DVD upscale and convert them to a higher resolution than is needed in an HDTV. This process enhances the image quality, although not actually increase resolution. The quality of players to scaling function is often the determining factor in the quality of the image becomes.
Considering all these points and features, the future Blu-ray looks very bright. Blu-ray discs and players will be around any certain time or until another more advanced technology takes its place! But for now, everyone can enjoy superior performance and visuals of Blu-ray offers.
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2008. This article may be freely distributed if this
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Evolution of Blu-ray: How the Blu-ray Disc Was Born
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