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Thus far, we have discussed the effects of optical media on
the past and present – the problems it has created, companies’ solutions to
these matters, and the like. Here we shall address the future of optical media, looking at
both the natures of technologies arriving in the near future as well as the long-term
ramifications of said technologies. Many different – and mutually incompatible – DVD writing standards will be emerging in the marketplace in the months ahead. First and foremost of these is DVD-RAM, the rewritable format agreed upon at the DVD Forum (from whence agreements on the original DVD specifications were formed.) This design allows up to 2.6 gigabytes of information to be written on one side of a DVD-RAM; these DVD-RAM discs will come in removable cartridges, save for double-sided discs, which will be permanently held in cartridges (to assist with protection of media surfaces.) DVD-RAM drives will be able to read and write DVDs; however, they will not be capable of recording on CD-Rs, leading to possible problems with regards to compatibility. |