| 1841 |
Augustin-Louis Cauchy Proposes a Sampling Theorem. |
| 1842 |
Charles Babbage Proposes analytical engine for performing and storing calculations. |
| 1854 |
George Boole publishes "An Investigation Into the Laws of Thought." A book that contained, among other
things, theories that were later used to build digital circuits. |
| 1855 |
Leon Scott de Martinville invents the phonoautograph, a machine that records vibrations on a carbonized paper cylinder. |
| 1876 |
Alexander Graham Bell introduces the telephone |
| 1877 |
Thomas Edison invents the phonograph while trying to invent a device that would record and repeat telegraphic signals
(digital) |
| 1887 |
Emily Berliner replaces Edison's wax cylinder phonograph with the audio disc. |
| 1915 |
78 R.P.M records introduced |
| 1922 |
J.R. Carson examines the idea of time sampling for communications |
| 1928 |
Harry Nyquiest publishes "Certain Topics in Telegraph Transmission Theory." His theory contained proof
that the technology used in todays audio cd's could work.
33 1/3 Records Introduced |
| 1937 |
A. Reeves invents pulse code modulation (PCM), a technology used by computers and CD's for audio in the present
day.
H. Aiken from Harvard approaches IBM and proposes a electrical computing machine. |
| 1943 |
The U.S. Army turns on the first computer (ENIAC) at the University of Pennsylvania. |
| 1947 |
Magnetic Tape Recorders hit the U.S. market. |
| 1948 |
The transistor is invented by Bell Laboratories.
Claude E. Shannon publishes "A Mathematical Theory of Communication." -- Yet another important development
for theories used in CD technology |
| 1949 |
45 rpm records hit the U.S. market, thanks to microgroove technology. |
| 1950 |
Richard W. Hamming publishes information about error detection/correction codes. It would be impossible for CD's
to work without error correction. |
| 1958 |
Invention of the Laser.
Stereo LP's produced.
Integrated Circuit introduced by Texas Instruments |
| 1960 |
Computer Music experiments take place at major laboratories.
I.S. Reed and G. Soloman publish information on multiple error correction codes. These come to be known as the
"Reed-Solomon" Codes which are the codes used for enconding and reading CD's.
Working Laser produced. |
| 1967 |
NHK Technical Research Institute demonstrates a 12-bit PCM digital audio recorder with a 30 kHz (30,000 times per
second) sampling rate. The digital recording goes onto a high-grade video tape. |
| 1969 |
Sony introduces it's 13-bit PCM digital recorder at a 47.25 kHz (47,250 time per second) sampling rate. The digital
recording is sent to a 2" video tape.
Klass Compaan, a Dutch physicist comes up with the idea for the Compact Disc. |
| 1970 |
At Philips, Compaan and Pete Kramer complete a glass disc prototype and determine that a laser will be needed to
read the information. |
| 1971 |
Microprocessor produced by Intel
Digital Delay line used by BBC's studios (first digital audio device). |
| 1972 |
Compaan and Kramer produce color prototype of this new compact disc technology |
| 1973 |
BBC and other broadcast companies start installing digital recorders for master recordings. |
| 1977 |
Mitsubishi, Hitachi & Sony show digital audio disc prototypes at the Tokyo Audio Fair.
JVC Develops Digital Audio Process |
| 1978 |
Philips releases the video disc player
Sony sells the PCM-1600 and PCM-1 (digital audio processors)
"Digital Audio Disc Convention" Held in Tokyo, Japan with 35 different manufacturers.
Philips proposes that a worldwide standard be set.
Polygram (division of Philips) determined that polycarbonate would be the best material for the CD.
Decision made for data on a CD to start on the inside and spiral towards the outer edge.
Disc diameter originally set at 115mm.
Type of laser selected for CD Players. |
| 1979 |
Prototype CD System demonstrated in Europe and Japan.
Sony agrees to join in collaboration.
Sony & Philips compromise on the standard sampling rate of a CD -- 44.1 kHz (44,100 samples per second)
Philips accepts Sony's proposal for 16-bit audio.
Reed-Solomon code adopted after Sony's suggestion.
Maximum playing time decided to be slighty more that 74 minutes.
Disc diameter changed to 120mm to allow for 74 minutes of 16-bit stereo sound with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz |
| 1980 |
Compact Disc standard proposed by Philips & Sony. |
| 1981 |
Matsushita accepts Compact Disc Standard
Digital Audio Disc Committee also accepts Compact Disc Standard.
Sharp achieves production of semiconductor laser.
Philips & Sony collaboration ends. |
| 1982 |
Sony & Philips both have product ready to go.
Compact Disc Technology is introduced to Europe and Japan in the fall. |
| 1983 |
Compact Disc Technology is introduced in the United States in the spring
The Compact Disc Group formed to help market.
CD-ROM Protoypes shown to public
30,000 Players sold in the U.S.
800,000 CD's sold in the U.S. |
| 1984 |
Second Generation & Car CD players introducted.
First Mass Replication Plant in the United States built.
Portable (i.e., Sony DiscMan) CD Players sold. |
| 1985 |
Third generation CD Players released.
CD-ROM drives hit the computer market. |
| 1986 |
CD-I (Interactive CD) concept created.
3 Million Players sold in U.S.
53 Million CD's sold in U.S. |
| 1987 |
Video CD format created.
Allen Adkins of Optical Media International joins with SonoPress in Amsterdam and demonstrates a desktop system
for pre-mastering CD's (Adkins and SonoPress, produced a replicated CD in less than 24-hours using this system). |
| 1988 |
CD-Recordable Disc/Recorder Technology Introduced |
| 1990 |
28% of all U.S. households have CD's.
9.2 million players sold annually in the United States.
288 million CD's sold annually in the United States.
World Sales close to 1 Billion |
| 1991 |
CD-I format acheived.
CD-Recordable Introduced to the Market
"QuickTopix" the first CD-R pre-mastering Software introduced by Allen Adkins. |
| 1992 |
CD-R Sales reach 200,000 |
| 1996 |
DVD Technology Introduced.
Prices of Recorders and CD-R Media go down significantly.
High Demands cause World-Wide CD-R Media Shortage. |
| 1997 |
DVD Released.
DVD Players/Movies hit consumer market.
DVD-R standard created (3.9 Gig).
Mitsui builds it's first CD-R production plant in the U.S.
World-wide shortage ends.
Price of CD-R media lower than ever imagined. |
| 1998 |
DVD-RAM, DVD-Recordable systems/equipment hits market.
DVD-Video/ROM authoring tools hits the market.
CD-R prices continue to drop. |
| 1999 |
DVD-Video Becomes main stream.
Consumers begin purchasing DVD Players & Movies on a mass level.
Most major film studios have titles on DVD.
DIVX Dies (DIgital Video eXpress).
Second Generation DVD Burners.
4.7 Gig DVD-R Media Developed.
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