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Optical Media

Optical media includes data storage devices like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs that use lasers for reading and writing data. CDs and DVDs utilize a red laser, with DVDs offering higher storage capacity due to smaller pit sizes and dual-layer technology, while Blu-ray discs employ a blue laser for even greater capacity and quality. The choice of media depends on the intended use, with CDs typically for music, DVDs for standard definition movies, and Blu-rays for high definition content.

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21 views3 pages

Optical Media

Optical media includes data storage devices like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs that use lasers for reading and writing data. CDs and DVDs utilize a red laser, with DVDs offering higher storage capacity due to smaller pit sizes and dual-layer technology, while Blu-ray discs employ a blue laser for even greater capacity and quality. The choice of media depends on the intended use, with CDs typically for music, DVDs for standard definition movies, and Blu-rays for high definition content.

Uploaded by

amandanobela18
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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OPTICAL MEDIA

Optical media refers to any data storage device or equipment that uses optical data
storage and retrieval techniques to read and write data. It stores data digitally on a
media device and uses a laser to read data from it
- CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs CDs and DVDS are described as optical storage
devices. Laser light(Laser light (laser radiation) is simply light generated with
a laser device. Such light has some very special properties, which very much
distinguish it from light with other origins) is used to read data from, and write data
onto, the surface of a disk

-Both CDs and DVDs use a thin layer of metal alloy or light-sensitive organic dye to
store the data.
-When a disk spins, the optical head moves to the point where the laser beam
‘contacts’ the disk surface and follows the spiral track from the centre outwards. As
with an HDD, a CD/DVD is divided into sectors allowing direct access of data. Also,
as in the case of an HDD, the outer part of the disk runs faster than the inner part of
the disk
-The data is stored in ‘pits’ and ‘bumps’ on the spiral track. A red laser is used to
read and write the data. CDs and DVDs can be designated R (write once only) or
RW (can be written to or read from many times). DVD technology is slightly different
to that used in CDs. One of the main differences is the use of dual layering( which
considerably increases the storage capacity.
-This means that there are two individual recording layers. Two layers of a standard
DVD are joined together with a transparent (polycarbonate) spacer, and a very thin
reflector is sandwiched between the two layers. Reading and writing of the second
layer is done by a red laser focusing at a fraction of a millimetre difference compared
to the first layer.

Standard, single layer DVDs still have a larger storage capacity than CDs because
the ‘pit’ size and track width are both smaller. This means that more data can be
stored on the DVD surface. DVDs use lasers with a wavelength of 650 nanometres;
CDs use lasers with a wavelength of 780 nanometres. The shorter the wavelength of
the laser light, the greater the storage capacity of the medium.
» Blu-ray discs are another example of optical storage media. However, they are
fundamentally different to DVDs in their construction and in the way they carry out
read-write operations.
» Blu-ray uses a blue laser, rather than a red laser, to carry out read and write
operations; the wavelength of blue light is only 405 nanometres (compared to 650
nm for red light).
» Using blue laser light means that the ‘pits’ and ‘bumps’ can be much smaller;
consequently, a Blu-ray can store up to five times more data than a DVD.
» Blu-ray uses a single 1.1 mm thick polycarbonate disk; DVDs use a sandwich of
two 0.6 mm thick disks.
» Using two sandwiched layers can cause birefringence (light is refracted into two
separate beams causing reading errors); because Blu-ray uses only one layer, the
discs do not suffer from birefringence.
» Blu-ray discs automatically come with a secure encryption system
CD,DVD,BLURAY DIFFERENCES
Generally speaking, when people decide to use each of these different discs it is
really dependent in what its use will be for.
Traditionally we have stored music on CD’s (Compact Discs), Standard definition
movies on DVD’s (Digital Versatile Disc) and High Definition Video on Blu-rays.

CD (Compact Disc)
Compact discs are very low density and have the smallest data storage capability.
You can store about 700 MB of data on most CD’s. It doesn’t sound like a lot but
when I was growing up we only had floppy disc drives which could sore less than 2
MB. When CD’s came out we were wrapped and its all anyone could talk about in
the computer industry.
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)
Because of the higher storage capability of DVD’s of around 4.2 GB it became the
standard for storing Movies on in the 2000’s.
Suddenly we had the ability to store all this information we couldn’t on a CD. The
movie industry jumped on board and before you new it we needed more space and
better quality!
You can also store the same information onto DVD’s as you can on a CD. The only
difference is you can store a lot more.

Blu-ray Discs
Blu-ray discs are a much higher density upgrade on the DVD standard.
With much higher storage capability, up to 128 GB movies and colours appear much
more vibrant and audio sounds much more richer. Blu-ray discs get their name from
the type of laser needed to burn the data onto the discs which is Blue and Violet.
Blu-ray discs cost more than CD’s and DVD’s.

Burning CD’s, DVD’s and Blu-rays


- we use these discs to read the information on them, but you can also transfer
information back the other way to the discs. This process is called burning as a laser
is used to facilitate the transfer to the discs.
-We can not use a CD burner to burn DVD’s and Blu-ray Discs.
Although most DVD burners will be able to burn to CD’s as well, for the most part
you need a burner specific to the media you are trying to burn to.

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