Blu-Ray Discs
Kunho Baik
Maya Irvine
Adam Lussier
Chris Mohr
Gary Roloff
What are Blu-ray Discs?
• Blu-ray
is a format for storing data on optical
disks
• Data is written using a blue-violet laser, giving
the format its name
• Using the Blu-ray format, 25 Gigabytes (GB) of
data can be written onto a single-layer, singlesided disk, as opposed to 4.7GB on a DVD, or
15GB on an HD-DVD
Background Information
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1998 – Release of High-Definition Televisions
Shuji Nakamura Invents blue LED technology but kept off
market due to patent problems
The first DVR Blue prototypes unveiled at the CEATEC
exhibition in October 2000
The DVD Forum deeply split over whether to develop blue laser
technology because of its higher expense.
Sony includes blu-ray players in PlayStation3 – although HD
DVD head starts in the high-definition video market, this
changed the game
By February 2008, Toshiba withdrew its support for the HD
DVD format, leaving Blu-ray the victor
Red Laser vs. Blue Laser
Normal Red Laser as used on CDs and DVDs
Wavelength: 650 nm
• In
Blue-violet laser as used in Blu-ray technology
Wavelength: 405nm
optical storage, data is written into many small pits
under the surface layer of the disk
• The shorter wavelength of the blue-violet laser used in BluRay technology allows smaller pits to be used
• Smaller pits means more can be fit on a disk, so more data
can be stored
Benefits of Blu-ray Discs
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Significantly increased storage space
(50GB vs. today's 4.7GB)
Has the potential to store 500GB on multiple
layers
Has the potential of up to 54MB/s read and
write speeds
Allows for high definition 1080p movies to be
marketed
Criticisms
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Critics say Sony is more concerned with royalties than
creating the best technology for the consumer
Manufacturing Blu-Ray discs requires new machinery,
while alternatives like HD-DVD can be produced on
existing DVD equipment
In the interest of copy-protection, companies have
included over-protective DRM that has caused some
consumers to experience problems playing purchased
discs in their players
Bill Gates: “the protection scheme under Blu-ray is
very anti-consumer”
Opinions and the Future of Blu-ray
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Blu-ray discs will definitely change the future of
the video industry
The Blu-ray discs have won the battle against
HD DVDs and will continue to grow
Eventually Replace the DVDs as the standard
disc format
Enjoying the high-definition quality of Blu-rays
will become a new form of entertainment in the
future
Works Cited
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“Blu-ray Disc” What is Blu-ray?. 2008. Blu-ray.com. 8 Sept, 2008. <http://www.blu-ray.com/info>.
“Blu-ray FAQ” Blu-ray FAQ. 2008. Blu-ray.com 8 Sept, 2008. <http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/>.
Ramstad, Evan. "In HDTV Age, Successor to VCR Still Seems to Be a Long Way Off"online.wsj.com.4 August1998.
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB891992681208651500.html?mod=googlewsj>
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Williams, Martyn. "Opening the Door for New Storage Options". pcworld.com. 12 April 2002.
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/103862/opening_the_door_for_new_storage_options.html>
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Williams, Martyn "Sony Shows 'DVR-Blue' Prototype". cdrinfo.com. 10 November 2000.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/105534/disc_makers_bet_on_blue_lasers.html
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Maury Wright. "HD-DVD and Blu-Ray lack wow at debut. " EDN 3 Aug. 2006: 12. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest.
Hunt Library,
Carnegie Mellon University. 23 Sep. 2008 <http://www.proquest.com/>
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Reimer, Jeremy. "New Blu-ray discs with BD+ DRM failing to play on some devices." Ars Technica (Oct. 2007). 23
Sept. 2008
<http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071007-new-blu-ray-discs-with-bd-drm-failing-to-play-on-somedevices.html>.
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Gates, Bill. "A conversation with Bill Gates." Interview with Chanakya Sethi. Daily Princetonian 14 Oct. 2005. 23 Sept.
2008
<http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/10/14/news/13474.shtml>.