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I first had the chance to find out about the Blu-ray a couple of months ago, when I participated in a contest and I had to write a story inspired by the Blu-ray technology. I had to dive into the matter to know at least what my source of inspiration was, and then I came up with a weird story that had something to do with the concept above-mentioned, even if the connection was very easy to perceive by me only.

Anyway, the technology is very well known these days by people who are always connected to the latest technological innovations and has enjoyed an impressive attention from manufacturers from all over the world and customers, in the same measure. This is why Blu-ray is all over the town as we speak.

For those who don’t know (‘cause I’m sure there are still many people out there who are precisely in the position I was in a couple of months ago) here we have a short presentation of the technology. The Blu-ray (pay attention, it’s not BLUE-ray!) is also known as Blue-ray Disc (or abbreviated as BD) is the name used for the next generation of optical disc formats that were developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (which is also known as BDA). The BDA is nothing but some sort of a “party” resulted from the collaboration between famous brands (from consumer electronics to personal computer and media manufacturers), such as Apple (who would have guessed?), Samsung, LG, Philips, Sony, Panasonic, Dell, Hitachi, Thomson, JVC, Pioneer, Sharp or Mitsubishi. You must agree, there are some powerful names in the previous enumeration.



The name is a derivation from the blue laser which is violet colored. The Blu-ray disc is based on the blue laser (compared to the technologies available so far, like the DVD, DVD±RW and DVD-RAM, based on a red laser), as it helps it not only to read to this new type of disk, but also to write. One of the violet laser advantages is the 405nm wavelength, shorter than the one of a red laser, which is of 650nm.



If you wonder why in earth someone had this wild idea, of releasing a brand new product, when there were already others in the market that did practically the same thing, you’ll understand as soon as I tell you the advantages of the Blu-ray technology. Therefore, the format’s apparition is due to the need to record, rewrite and playback all sorts of high-definition videos (HD). Not to mention the fact that the Blu-ray gives you the chance to store huge amounts of information, even if when it comes to its physical dimensions, is similar to the standard CDs and DVDs that you are all very familiar with.

You know the capacity storage of a traditional DVD. Multiply by five and you’ll be somewhere near the capacity of a BD. Pretty much, isn’t it? In addition, if the disc is single-layered, then it’s able to store up to 25GB, while the double-layered one stores 50GB.

The Blu-ray technology is more and more exploited these days, as approximately 200 of the most important manufacturers from all over the world decided to adopt it. Not to mention the success it had when it comes to the Hollywood studios that are very eager to release their new movies on BD day-and-date with DVD. And I have a hunch that things will go further for the Blu-ray. Much further.