Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Why was the Compact Disc standardized at 120 mm wide?

Corrosion of a Compact Disc (Depeche Mode - Co...Image via WikipediaMy daughter is home sick and I'm behind on all three of my jobs, so let's just acknowledge the 28th birthday of the public release of compact discs with this CD-related Geek Trivia I wrote a few years ago:
Philips and Sony co-developed the CD, with much of the technology derived from Philips’ existing (though ultimately unsuccessful) LaserDisc video efforts. When the first compact disc rolled off the assembly line on Aug. 17, 1982, that line was at a Philips plant in Germany.
The two companies collectively developed and agreed on the specifications found in IEC 60908, but the basis for at least one of those specs — the 120-mm diameter of the CD — was somewhat controversial, especially when you hear the possible reasoning behind it. 
WHY IS THE COMPACT DISC STANDARDIZED AT 120 MM WIDE?
Get the answer here.
Enhanced by Zemanta