How Digital Video Works

Digital video is the kind of technology that makes your life easier, more enjoyable, and will capture your important data with never before seen clarity. Yet some of us wonder How Digital Video Works?

Here is a quick overview: Digital video uses digital - as opposed to analog - signals. By way of explanation, the term digital simply refers to the use of binary numbers to evaluate input, store the input, and then transfer the output to a defined mode of receiver, such as a television set, computer screen, or even printer.

The term "digital video" was coined in 1996 when a new, more advanced, video format was introduced to the market. Using the already existing video technology, digital video captures moving pictures on magnetic tape, and then later on allows for the transmission of said data.

It is important to understand that digital video is a kind of technology that differentiates itself from the no-tape digital video camcorders and no-film digital video cameras.

Digital video operates on the principle of video compression. Obviously, the more compression, the more will be stored. One term that will come up time and again is MPEG (moving picture experts group). MPEG-2 is the usual standard of the industry.

Part and parcel of the digital video format is the cassette format. While there are different sizes available, the standard size is commonly referred to as "L-size."

As you can see, digital video is a multi-faceted technology that is here to stay. There are so many applications for this wonderful technology, that it is hard to imagine life without it. After all, at this point in time it supports:

* Video CDs
* DVDs
* Online playing of larger video files, and even entire movies
* Camcorders
* Cameras

Sincere there are now so many digital video applications available to consumers - in part because the technology is becoming smaller, easier to use, and also more competitively priced - it is not surprising that many have begun to take matters into their own hands and have joined the ranks of those who now take digital videos on an amateur basis.

In addition to the foregoing, this boom has also added more opportunities for those who wish to work from home and become their own bosses: many of these video camera junkies are now much sought after wedding photographers, who are making a lucrative living of what once used to be a hobby.

In other cases, some digital photographers have turned into commercial artists whose works now grace the covers of books, magazines, and other publications. There is no telling how many artists digital video has inspired, but one thing is for certain: as the technology continues to advance, more and more aficionados will join the ranks of the hobbyists, only to later on cross over to the ranks of the professionals who are using the technology to a great personal profit.

So go ahead and visit your local electronics store and decide to be amazed - and perhaps also inspired - and who knows, you might just be joining their ranks!