Laserdisc is first available commercially
LaserDisc Laserdisc (AKA VideoDisc) technology is a truly fascinating look at what could have been. The technology looks like a larger CD but unlink a CD is recorded using frequency modulation (still via pits and lands like on the CD). This means that the disc is recorded as an analogue signal, where as a CD is a truly digital signal (binary). On top of this, Laserdisc was really a fantastic quality for the time and provided many benefits over VHS such as pausing (with a clear picture) and track skipping. The first optical video disc was invented by David Paul Gregg in 1958. His invention was created on a translucent media and was not sold to consumers, instead he patented it in 1961 and then again in 1969 shortly after which he decided to sell the patents to the Phillips company. Phillips was already working on a system and with the introduction of Gregg’s patents was able to make significant progress. Their goal was…
Sony Releases First Betamax player
Betamax was a short lived (home use) video format that is similar to VHS cassette. While it did not last in the home markets, it did continue to be used professionally for data storage and broadcasting for many years.
Invention of the microprocessor
The invention of the microprocessor is probably the single biggest contributor to the onset of the digital era. It was invented by a team of logic architects and silicon engineers, Federico Faggin, Marcian (Ted) Hoff, Stanley Mazor, and Masatoshi Shima, for Busicom, a Japanese calculator company. The chip set they developed included a what would become iconic chip the 4004 (3).
First in home 8 track
The 8 Track Player 8 tracks were developed by William Powell Lear, while working at the Lear Jet Company. He is also the inventor of the Learjet. His invented the 8 track by developing a way to divide magnetic tape in 8 channels (or tracks), this increased the amount of storage space without negatively impacting sound quality. Like reel to reel, magnetic wire recording (coming soon) and later cassettes 8 tracks are a type of magnetic…