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Research draft

DVD

vr.tr.dvd · ACT.ACT

Let an agent explain DVDs, relay technology, formats, region coding, copy protection and preservation from technical and media history sources, describe the named formats, and distinguish DVDs from CDs, Blu-ray discs, HD DVD and streaming.

Thing Registry Activities and processes

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent explain DVDs, relay technology, formats, region coding, copy protection and preservation from technical and media history sources, describe the named formats, and distinguish DVDs from CDs, Blu-ray discs, HD DVD and streaming.

An optical disc format for digital data storage, introduced in 1995 by a consortium including Philips, Sony, Toshiba and Panasonic, storing about 4.7 GB on a single-layer 12 cm disc using a 650 nm red laser, with application formats the registry aliases name such as DVD-Video for films with MPEG-2 video, region codes and CSS copy protection, DVD-Audio for high-resolution music, and DVD-ROM for data, recordable formats DVD-R and DVD+R, collectively DVD plus-minus R, and the smaller MiniDVD; DVD covers are the packaging artwork. DVDs were succeeded by Blu-ray and streaming but remain used for archiving and physical media collections, with disc rot and scratches limiting lifespan.

What it is for: Storing video, audio and data.

It can be explain technology and formats; relay region coding and copy protection; describe named formats; relay preservation.

Distinguishing features

Red laser optical disc

Region codes

Multiple application formats

Mass-market film distribution

What it looks like

A shiny 12 cm or 8 cm disc in a plastic case with cover art.

Physical character

single-layer capacity: about 4.7 GB

laser wavelength: 650 nm

introduced: 1995 year - first players 1996 in Japan

How it is recognised

Optical disc format of 1995

DVD plus-minus R, MiniDVD, DVD cover, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-ROM

CDs hold less and use infrared lasers; Blu-ray uses blue lasers and holds more; HD DVD was a rival format; streaming delivers over networks

Related models

is a kind of - in registry terms

optical disc

succeeded - for video storage

compact disc

was succeeded by -

Blu-ray

uses - on DVD-Video

Content Scramble System

In practice

Families and kinds

DVD-Video

DVD-Audio

DVD-ROM

recordable DVD-R, DVD+R and rewritable formats

MiniDVD

Standards and regulation

DVD Forum specifications

ECMA-267 DVD-ROM standard

Copyright laws on circumvention such as the DMCA

Failure modes and hazards

Disc rot and data loss

Advising circumvention of copy protection

Region incompatibility

Also called

DVD±RMiniDVDDVD coverDVD-VideoDVD-AudioDVD-ROMDVD cardDVD recordableDVD-DDVD slickDVD-RW DL

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Understand What a DVD is.

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What is a DVD, and how does it differ from CDs, Blu-ray, HD DVD and streaming? definition
  2. Is the question about playback, archiving, formats or copying, where copyright law applies? boundary

Formats

Named formats.

Formats

Formats.

  1. What are DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-ROM, recordable formats and MiniDVD, and what is a DVD cover? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific format? action
Technology Technology.

Science.

Optics

Optical storage.

Optics

Optics.

  1. How do red lasers and pit sizes give DVDs more capacity than CDs? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Video

DVD-Video.

Video

Video.

  1. How do MPEG-2, region codes and CSS work on DVD-Video? provenance
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance
Rights Copy protection.

Regulation.

CSS

Content Scramble System.

CSS

CSS.

  1. What is CSS, and what legal disputes followed DeCSS, with positions attributed? provenance
  2. Is the presentation neutral and free of circumvention guidance? boundary

Regions

Region codes.

Regions

Regions.

  1. Why were DVD region codes introduced? provenance
  2. Which entry fits DVD region code? action
Context Media history.

Context.

Format war

Successors.

Format war

Format war.

  1. How did Blu-ray defeat HD DVD, and how did streaming reduce disc sales? provenance
  2. Which entry fits high-definition optical disc format war? action

Archiving

Preservation.

Archiving

Archiving.

  1. How long do recordable DVDs last, and what do archivists recommend? provenance
  2. Which entry fits digital preservation? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should DVD-Audio be a separate entry?
  • How should preservation guidance be linked?
  • Should DVD cover be moved to packaging entries?