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Video technology has come a very long way in a very short space of time. Starting with the revolutionary introduction of DVD video in the 1990s, we are now entering the next phase of consumer video technology with two new high definition video standards: HD-DVD and Blu-ray. Both have been developed to enable the consumer to record, playback, and even rewrite high definition video and data using a single disc, but a battle reminiscent of VHS vs Betamax is about to begin. Current DVD technology utilises a red laser system, while the newer HD-DVD and Blu-ray utilise a blue laser system. The blue laser system uses a much shorter wavelength than the red laser system, meaning that smaller pits can be used to record and read data from the discs. It is possible to squeeze many more of the smaller-sized pits onto a new HD disc and therefore more data can be stored per unit of disc area. As a result, HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs have a holding capacity of up to 25GB on a single layer disc (as opposed to the 4.7GB on a traditional DVD ‘red laser’ disc). Initially, consumers will notice a difference in the actual structure of the Blu-ray and HD-DVD. The HD-DVD disc is comparable to the average DVD disc utilised today in size; however the Blu-ray has stepped away from the conventional 0.6mm disc and uses a thicker 1.1mm sized disc. As with the norm of DVD discs today, the HD-DVD disc offers a 0.6mm coating for protection while the Blu-ray offers a minuscule 0.1mm protective coating. Since the Blu-ray has such a thin protective layer, the laser has a lot less disc to read and/or write through which has the benefit of making the Blu-ray have a storage capacity of up to 25GB while the HD-DVD has a capacity of around 15GB. However, the Blu-ray requires a hard coating since the data is stored so closely to the surface, and this hard coating is much more susceptible to smudges and damage from the skin’s natural oil. On the other hand, the HD-DVD stores the data an equal distance from both sides of the disc making the data more difficult to harm. Blu-ray discs currently come in 3 various sizes, each with different capacities while the HD-DVD currently only has the traditional size with the maximum capacity of 15GB. The size of the pits on the disc is important. The closer the data is to the surface, the smaller the pits; the smaller the pits, the easier it is to corrupt the data – error correction in the reading device then becomes important. HD-DVD decided to use what was known in error correction technology today by making all data containers and the correction algorithms to be reused as is common with DVD standards today. The Blu-ray uses a new strategy when faced with error correction that has yet to be proven either good or bad. When making a prediction to the long term success of a newly developed format technology, one standard investigation is to look at the companies supporting the new format. HD-DVD is supported and promoted by over 235 popular companies today such as Sanyo, Toshiba, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, and the Warner Bros Studios. On the other hand, Blu-ray is supported and promoted by over 100 popular entertainment companies today such as 20th Century Fox, Sun Microsystems, Electronic Arts, Panasonic, and Sony. A consideration for the makers of each system is the comparative production costs. The HD-DVD uses current technology in production of the discs so current DVD techniques will be utilised to manufacture the HD-DVD discs. On the other hand, Blu-ray discs will require a considerable amount of money to be invested in the production of new equipment and techniques. The estimate in creation time for a single HD-DVD disc is about 2.8 seconds while the Blu-ray will take up to 5 seconds per disc. Retooling and learning techniques will obviously cost a lot more if Blu-ray is to eventually become mainstream. Future innovations will make both the Blu-ray and the HD-DVD a distinct possibility for the future. While the HD-DVD may be more acceptable simply because it would be far more straightforward to adopt this new technology, the Blu-ray clearly has proponents with its larger capacity and smaller size. Picking the eventual winner between the two new DVD formats is not an easy task. Both formats have distinct and unique advantages over the other, and perhaps the deciding factor will be the backward capabilities of the future dominant format. As it stands, HD-DVD discs and hardware are not compatible with Blu-ray and visa versa, but the future may be decided by which one becomes backwardly compatible first.
Staff editor, Electronics Section, February 2007 |
