As one of the lead developers of the ground-breaking technology known as DVD, Toshiba continues to be at the forefront of the market with DVD computer products. With DVD, the first technology to bridge the computer and consumer industries, computer and entertainment enthusiasts can enjoy dramatically enhanced interactive programs, improved digital video and Dolby Digital Surround Sound AC-3 audio playback. Although DVD discs look like a CD, they offer audio, video and data in four different read-only capacity formats ranging from 4.7GB to 17GB - seven to 25 times the capacity of today's CDs. DVD also includes rewriteability with DVD-RAM drives, providing storage from 2.6GB to 5.2GB on a single disc.

History
Toshiba was the leading developer of DVD and played a pivotal role in unifying the format with other industry-leading computer and consumer electronics companies. In 1995, Toshiba formed a strategic alliance with Time Warner, uniting its entertainment expertise with Toshiba's electronic ingenuity. Also that year, Toshiba joined eight other companies to create a standard for the emerging technology. In 1996, international companies from a range of industries united to support a single technology - DVD. DVD was created to fulfill the needs of two major groups: the computer industry and Hollywood's movie studios. DVD meets the requirements laid out by these two groups:

• A single-interchange standard for both TV-based and PC applications
• Backward-read compatibility with existing CDs
• Forward compatibility with future read/write and write-once DVD discs
• A low-cost format
• No mandatory container (caddy or cartridge)
• Reliable data storage and retrieval
• High online capacity (135 minutes of MPEG-2 video on a single side)
• High performance for sequential and non-sequential data
• High-quality video
• High-quality sound

DVD offers enhanced performance in all areas critical to computing and entertainment applications, from storage capacity to improved playback, compatibility and reliability. As the leading developer of DVD technology, Toshiba has the experience and strength to make an impact on all areas of DVD business. Toshiba is the only company currently positioned to dominate the DVD market because of its developments in DVD chips, DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM drives, DVD players and its aggressive efforts to develop the industry infrastructure for DVD.

DVD: Technological Advances
DVD is not just a breakthrough in any one specific area, rather it is the result of major advancements in a number of critical core technologies. Following are some of the most important:

Shorter Wavelength Laser
DVD systems use a laser beam that can focus on smaller data pits than the laser currently used in CD-ROM drives. DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM drives use a red laser with a shorter wavelength to create a very small laser spot capable of precisely reading the dense data tracks and smaller data pits. The drive also incorporates an interchangeable dual-lens system to provide compatibility with existing CD discs.

MPEG-2
The recommended video compression technology used to create DVD applications is the international standard MPEG-2. The video quality which results from MPEG-2 compression far surpasses the quality of MPEG-1 and other compression schemes used for CD-ROM and Video CDs. MPEG-2 delivers full-screen, full-motion video, a significant advancement over the "postage stamp" size video typical of CD-ROM applications. Through MPEG-2 video compression technology and Dolby Digital Surround Sound (AC-3) audio compression, 133 minutes of high-quality video and audio can be stored on one DVD disc and can be viewed through either a television set or through a multimedia computer system. With MPEG-2, DVD-ROM will dramatically transform multimedia and interactive programs through the use of state-of-the-art digital video. Everything from the simplest edutainment program to the most "virtually real" games will provide a complete interactive experience.

Discs
While today's CDs are 1.2mm thick, the DVD disc uses two bonded 0.6mm substrates, which allow for double-sided recording. Because of the enhanced laser technology, the pits on the DVD discs can be made smaller and packed more tightly on the disc, increasing overall capacity. Plus, the physical format of a single DVD disc, also increases reliability. The disc is now symmetrical and more resilient to changes in temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions, making the disc less likely to warp.

Other features such as improved error correction methods, new modulation methods and improved format efficiency all result in improved performance. The logical format, based on UDF and ISO9660, ensures cross-platform compatibility with current and future versions of DVD, as well as future operating system enhancements. The combination of improved DVD hardware and DVD software ensures that DVD is the storage and playback technology of the future.

DVD Formats for Leading-Edge Products
The advances in technology are incorporated into DVD products that meet a variety of needs:

DVD-ROM
Toshiba's DVD-ROM drives take DVD into the computing arena. DVD's high-capacity discs and advanced MPEG-2 and Dolby Digital Surround Sound playback capabilities make it the medium of choice for all computer enthusiasts. Toshiba's current line of DVD-ROM products features ATAPI interfaces.

Toshiba's DVD-ROM drives can be integrated into or added as a peripheral to desktop computer systems. Plus, DVD is compatible with the next generation of "living room" computers with large TV-like monitors and game console-style remote control devices.

Slimline DVD-ROM
Toshiba has also successfully introduced DVD technology to the world of portable computing. Slimline DVD-ROM drives are now available in cutting-edge notebook and ultraportable computers for the ever-expanding mobile computing market. On-the-road presentations and high capacity storage has never been so convenient for mobile users.

DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM technology combines the many features of DVD with enhanced rewriteability. DVD-RAM is perfectly suited for a range of applications such as data back-up, document archiving, self-made multimedia works and presentations, due to its large storage capacity. DVD-RAM allows users to record and re-record from 2.6GB up to 5.2GB of data onto one disk. The DVD-RAM drives use phase-change technology in which a laser heats the inner surface of the disc to magnetically charge one way or another. This allows the data to be written once, twice and virtually millions of times.

Interchangeability for Industry Compatibility
Providing a true "industry standard," DVD products are interchangeable, or compatible, with other DVD media. DVD-ROM drives can not only read DVD-ROM and DVD-Video media, but can also read all types of CD media, including CD-ROM, CD-Audio, CD-R and CD-RW, allowing consumers to enjoy their existing CD libraries while taking advantage of DVD's added functionality and performance. DVD-RAM also provides interchangeability, through the ability to read all CD and DVD media, including DVD-R.

High Online Storage
DVD breaks the capacity barrier for next-generation storage, and is sure to change how computer users think of data storage and retrieval. More and more of today's most popular software is distributed on multiple CDs; tomorrow they will be distributed on a single DVD disc. Plus, the capacity of DVD combined with Internet-refreshed data will enable enhanced electronic browsing.

DVD-ROM discs are supported in four different formats:

• Single-sided, single-layer: 4.7GB
• Single-sided, double-layer: 8.5GB
• Double-sided, single-layer: 9.4GB
• Double-sided, double-layer: 17GB

DVD-RAM discs are supported in two different formats for data storage:

• Single-sided: 2.6GB
• Double-sided: 5.2GB

Multimedia in Many Forms
The combination of high-storage capacity with cutting-edge multimedia playback capabilities makes DVD ideal for multimedia applications, games and entertainment titles. DVD utilizes MPEG-2 video and Dolby Digital Surround Sound audio compression technologies for high-resolution video and audio, giving computer users the ultimate multimedia experience. These unique multimedia playback features result in true interactivity, since the DVD disc has enough capacity for several endings to the same story, and several different perspectives of the same visual. With DVD-RAM, computer users can also enjoy the benefit of self-made multimedia works. From training videos in the workplace to edutainment titles at home for the kids - DVD fulfills the promise of multimedia that started with CD-ROM.

Manufacturing DVD Discs

The manufacturing of DVD-ROM and RAM discs is very similar to the manufacture of CDs. Current CD manufacturing facilities require only minor modification to manufacture DVD discs. One required change comes during the process of bonding the two thinner discs back-to-back to create a DVD disc equal to the thickness of a CD. While this process does require new bonding equipment, the time spent bonding the discs is minimal. Some think that the DVD manufacturing process may be even quicker than CDs. Since DVD discs are thinner than CDs, they require less time to cool - saving valuable time and allowing the manufacturer to quickly proceed to the next step.

Manufacturing DVD Drives
The manufacture of DVD-ROM drives is also very similar to the manufacture of CD-ROM drives. Since the design of DVD-ROM drives closely resembles a CD-ROM drive, very few changes are needed in the production and assembly equipment. However, because of the enhanced capabilities of DVD, modifications to the test equipment are needed.

Toshiba has taken its expertise in phase-change technology and applied it to the development of DVD-RAM drives. Combined with its years of experience in developing CD-ROM drives, Toshiba's DVD-RAM drives will provide the same reliability and quality. At present, Toshiba has facilities dedicated to the production of its DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM drives, as well as to the continued production of its industry-leading CD-ROM drives.

Growth Path for Future Generation Products
The DVD format was developed with a planned growth path to support future important digital standards. With the addition of new technologies such as blue lasers, DVD-ROM will increase well beyond today's 2.6GB per side and by 2005, DVD-RAM will offer up to 50GB per side.

Conclusion

The dream of a true digital media format was realized with the advent of DVD, and Toshiba will deliver DVD technology in ways that no other companies can. With its expertise in all areas of computer and electronic design, to its strategic alliances with entertainment companies spanning the globe, Toshiba is redefining the way we view computing, home entertainment and everything in between. DVD will be the new standard for digital storage, revolutionizing computers, video, audio and home entertainment.