Blackbeard used our newssubmit to tell us that manufacturers of optical disk equipment have begun to unify their Research and Development approaches as they search for the next generation of DVD.
Three main proposals have been made for the basic disk structure: (1) a design with a cover layer about 0.1mm thick over the recording layer for protection, (2) the same design as for existing DVDs, consisting of 0.6mm substrates attached together, and (3) an intermediate approach, using substrates 0.3mm to 0.4mm thick. Each proposal has been debated and promoted at various society meetings. |
Recently, however, major manufacturers in the optical disk industry have begun to draw up a unified disk structure. A look at the technology development situation shows that more firms in the industry are shifting development toward the thin 0.1mm cover layer
Working together is important for the technology. We have seen it with DVD, the standard for burning DVD's is something that has kept us away from affordable DVD recording drives. This time they seem to agree in the next step of technology, and that's good for us, the customers. But there is stil a lot of work to do.
While manufacturers have basically agreed on a disk structure, however, it does not mean that a unified standard can be drawn up immediately. The reason is that even with a single macro disk structure, there may be a number of different recording track configurations or recording signal encoding schemes. And in addition to these technical issues, as one manufacturer who is reluctant to work at the standardization explains, "We really should be concentrating on achieving widespread adoption of the current rewritable DVD." It is quite possible that the unified standard may change several times, depending on manufacturers' strategies. |
Sony, the current leader in technology related to the 0.1mm cover layer, has announced that it wants to form a new framework that is not limited to the DVD standard. "There are a number of major optical disk drive manufacturers who are not members of the DVD Forum," explains a spokesman for the firm. "We wonder if the standards for the next generation of optical disks can really be created within the framework of the DVD Forum."
Even if the standards are drawn up by the DVD Forum, it is entirely possible that commercialization could be delayed by copy-protection technology and difficulties in securing the light source. Manufacturers are beginning to sit down and talk about it, but there are still several obstacles to overcome.
Source: Nikkeibp.com
