Rich Fiscus
27 Jun 2008 15:52
A research paper from a team at Tohoku University in Japan has apparently found a way to increase the data density on a DVD by changing the shape of the pits. Supposedly a V shaped pit can hold more than 500 times as much data as the standard square sided pit found on a regular DVD.
While it's certainly an interesting idea, it seems like the buzz that's being generated on some tech websites is more than a little premature. To begin with it's not really a DVD and apparently can't be played on any existing hardware. That makes sense if you consider that the angle of reflection would be different.
Presumably the description of it as a DVD refers to the laser's wavelength, which could certainly make players less expensive to manufacture than Blu-ray. But that doesn't necessarily mean disc production costs, perhaps Blu-ray's biggest weakness, would be any better.
Let's say, for the sake of argument, this new technology would be cheaper to implement than Blu-ray. The studios and consumer electronics manufacturers have already decided on Blu-ray. Regardless of the technical merits of a new format it would still need hardware and content. We already have VMD as a cheaper alternative to Blu-ray and so far it looks like a nonstarter.
Since it also seems they can't use the technique with Blu-ray discs it's not entirely clear what the application of this technology would be. Of course if Blu-ray fails that could change things drastically, but for now it doesn't seem like earth shattering news.
If you're interested in finding out more, and happen to read Japanese, you can find the full text on the university's website.