the first compact disc

The first compact disc project was launched in 1978 following Philips' failed design with video disc technology. It was later produced in 1982, in a factory in Germany after years of development by Philips and Sony.

The original video disc technology was inspired by an Italian, Antonio Rubbiani, who in 1957 experimented with the idea of a laser technology that could read information from a disc without any physical contact.

In 1970 Philips began work on what was called the ALP (audio long play) - an audio disc system to rival vinyl records, but using laser technology.

The original plan for the size of the CD was 11.5cm diameter, but Beethoven had other ideas - his 9th symphony would not fit on one disc. At 74 minutes it was the longest recording of a symphony, and when Sony insisted that it fit, the CD size was increased to 12cm to accommodate the extra data.

Two years earlier, Sony and JVC digital audio disc -systems had been appraised and accepted at the DAD conference. However, with Sony's launch of the CD system, almost all other hardware companies announced that they would market products based on the Sony and Philips standard, thus the CD design as we know it today became accepted as industry standard.

The first fifty titles released on CD targeted a wide audience, and included classical, popular and rock releases.

Names for the new audio format included Mini Rack, MiniDisc, and Compact Rack, but the team at Philips settled on Compact Disc because it would remind them of the success of the Compact Cassette.

One of the first CD players. Looks a little bit like a microwave!!



Blanche
Information from:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6950933.stm
http://www.newscenter.philips.com/main/standard/about/news/press/20070816_25th_anniversary_cd.wpd
http://news.sel.sony.com/en/corporate_information/company_of_firsts
http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-20/h5.html