Optical Disk Formats: A Briefing. ERIC Digest.

This digest begins with a brief description and review of the development of optical disks. Optical disk formats are then described by capability: Read Only Memory (ROM), Write Once, Read Many (WORM), Interactive (I), and Erasable (E); forms of information (audio, text or data, video or graphics, or a combination); and disk size (most often 12 or 4.72 inches in diameter). Some 12-inch formats are then briefly described: optical digital data disk, videodisc, digital video disk, and interactive video disk. Brief descriptions of compact disk formats cover compact audio disk, compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), and compact disk-write once, read many (CD-WORM). Future formats currently under development are also briefly described, including HDTV video disk (readable by high-definition television), compact disk-interactive (CD-I), digital video interactive (DVI), and compact disk-erasable magneto optic (CD-EMO). It is concluded that, although the new technology presents some problems, these problems will disappear within the next few years because of the new formats and systems being developed. It is suggested that interested users may keep up-to-date on new developments in this rapidly developing field by contacting manufacturers directly and by reading recent periodicals. (10 references) (CGD)