How Does Blu-ray Work? - LaserDisc, CD, DVD, Blu-ray Explained

LaserDisc, CD, DVD, Blu-ray are all one big happy family - with the exception of HD DVD, which was disinherited for being too stubborn. This video explains how these optical discs work in practical terms. A couple of things have been left out for the sake of simplicity and/or brevity. For instance, Blu-ray discs are layered differently from their predecessors. Where CDs have a thick transparent layer and a thin supportive back layer, Blu-ray are opposite. The transparent layer is much stronger than those of CDs due to new technologies, and with a thicker back layer BDs are stronger and cheaper to produce. Also, problems with the laser light misreading the data due to errors in the transparent material, has been reduced. Another thing I omitted from the animation was the fact that the laser and photocell move together, across the disc. I’m still on the fence if this is interesting or important and chose to leave it out due to time restraints (my own, not the video’s).