With each passing year technology seems to outdo itself, which means that we can now experience entertainment on a whole new level.

Because of the ongoing quest to achieve the clearest and most lifelike video entertainment, we have yet another development to add to the history of the home theater experience.

This new technological marvel is known as Blu-ray.

Blu-ray is a new format of information storage which enables the user to record, rewrite and play back high-definition video.

Because of its advanced design a Blu-ray disc can store large amounts of video and data — equal to five times the amount a DVD can hold.

Because of this upgraded storage capacity, consumers will now be able to enjoy a high-definition experience which has never been seen before.

So now that we know what Blu-ray is, how does it work?

Blu-ray employs the use of a blue-violet laser (hence the name Blu-ray), which uses a shorter wavelength than the red laser that DVDs use.

What this means is that because of the shorter wavelength, the blue-violet laser is able focus on a smaller area while reading and writing information, which in turn allows for more information to be packed into a smaller area.

Because of this larger capacity, more video and high-definition components can be stored on a disc the same size as a DVD, offering the consumer a better overall entertainment experience.

What this all boils down to in the long run is that just as DVD replaced VHS, Blu-ray is said to be the successor of DVDs.

So, now that we know what it is and what it does, where can we find this technology?

Since the introduction of Blu-ray onto the market in the beginning of 2006, the majority of movie studios have already begun to release titles in the Blu-ray format. These discs cost about as much as a DVD and are available just about everywhere that DVDs are.

As far as a Blu-ray player, they are also widely available and will cost the consumer anywhere from $800 to over thousands of dollars depending on the options.

So, next time you’re cleaning out a space in the attic for your old VHS tapes make sure to make some room for your DVDs because Blu-ray is the wave of the future.

Sources: Blu-ray.com, Cdfreaks.com, Bestbuy.com

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