Computer Industry Committee Urges Unified Standard for Digital Videodisk

A group of leading American computer companies, including Apple Computer, Compaq Computer, Hewlett-Packard, I.B.M., and Microsoft, has joined forces to urge Japanese and European consumer electronics companies to develop a unified standard for the digital videodisk, a highly anticipated future product. The committee, composed of technical experts, has issued a list of nine features it believes the computer industry would like to see in digital videodisk systems, including compatibility between computers and the new digital videodisk player. The goal is to avoid a costly and divisive format war, similar to the one between VHS and Beta video recorders.

Key Takeaways:

• The computer industry committee has urged Japanese and European consumer electronics companies to develop a unified standard for the digital videodisk, to avoid a costly format war.
• The committee has issued a list of nine features it believes the computer industry would like to see in digital videodisk systems, including compatibility between computers and the new digital videodisk player.
• Digital videodisks will be the same size as music compact disks or CD-ROMs, but will be able to store much more sound, pictures or computer data.
• Initially, the videodisks will not be able to record programs off the air, as VCRs can.
• The computer industry group was formed last year and met with both the Sony and Toshiba camps two weeks ago in San Francisco to discuss the standard for digital videodisks.
• The committee's main wish is that the disks and machines used for storing computer data and for watching movies be compatible, reflecting the convergence of the computing and entertainment industries.
• The initial digital videodisk players should be able to play recordable and erasable disks when they appear in a few years.
• Dr. Alan E. Bell, an I.B.M. data storage expert and head of the computer industry committee, has emphasized the importance of a single format, stating that "we're urging that there be a single format that represents a synthesis of the two competing approaches."

Statistics:

• Digital videodisks are expected to reach the market next year.
• The new digital videodisk player will have the same size as music compact disks or CD-ROMs, but will be able to store much more sound, pictures or computer data.
• Initially, the videodisks will not be able to record programs off the air, as VCRs can.
• The committee has set several goals for the digital videodisk system, including compatibility between computers and the new digital videodisk player.

Sources:

• An article in the newspaper, published on [no date available]
• Dr. Alan E. Bell, quoted in a telephone interview, [no date available]
• A report from the computer industry committee, [no date available]