Essential Guide to Computer Data Storage: From Floppy to DVD, The

Compact Disc (CD)

Introduction

The history of the CD started with the videodisc in the form of Video Long Play (VLP) read-only systems. The videodisc did not become a commercial success—it was an analog storage system.

In about 1982, the CD-DA (compact disc-digital audio) was introduced to the market jointly by Philips and Sony. It stored high-quality stereo audio signal in a digital form. These systems became a huge success. In 1983, the compact disc system was first introduced in the United States.

In 1985, this technology was extended to computer storage, thanks again to cooperation between Philips and Sony. This was called a CD-ROM (compact disc-read only memory) and later became a standard ECMA-119, which specifies the CD-ROM physical format. ...