Digital Video

The first success in the creation of a digital video was reported back in the 70s and 80s when with a special effect unit and some time base connectors, an analog video input was digitized. The signal, effects and manipulation of the video improved considerably afterwards. More digital video equipments were created in the Bosch research labs in the 70s but the commercial introduction took longer, with the first digital video available with Sony D-1 in 1986.

In the first forms of digital video, the analog source remained essential because it served for the digitized encoding that could be read by computers. Step by step, the passage from analog to digital signal became predominant with television transmissions adopting the digital video standards. Soon, the appearance of the non-linear editing systems would mark the evolution of electronics for good. High definition television would not be possible without it.

All the communication devices designed and manufactured today included a digital video camera, not to mention that almost every family has such a piece of electronics in the household. Only the older phone models are camera-less. Moreover, the market has been quickly won by the popular concept of camcorder that combines a camera with a recorder. A digital video can be stored and copied without any degradation of the information; the clarity of the sound and image remains high quality if it was filmed properly.

Digital video applications are more numerous than just the private use with mobile phones; Internet communications and conferencing systems are the best examples here. The editing process for the applications has been simplified to a very large extent and the Internet abounds in programs, tools and softwares that are provided for free download. The most common format for editing a digital video with Internet applications is Windows Media while MPEG2 is exclusively used for DVDs.

One can hardly express the full number of applications and the usage extent of free digital video technology nowadays. From home applications and corporate business, digital technology now defines our society better than ever. And more evolved forms are expected to appear. There is more in stock with digital video than we may know!