[sci.electronics] questions on LaserVision

wlee@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Wan Ngai Wayne Lee) (02/11/90)

is the visual portion of a twelve-inch video laserdisc stored as analog information or as digital information?                                                       

wlee@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Wan Ngai Wayne Lee) (02/11/90)

These are a few questions on new electronic media.

Is the visual portion of a twelve-inch video laserdisc stored as analog
information or as digital information?

In the Pioneer LaserVision catalog there are apparently three screen aspect
ratios available. The most common type of video laserdisc is the standard
NTSC 3:4 ratio. There are also two widescreen formats available: letterbox
and matte.  Does anyone know what the matte format means? The catalog says
that matte is "similar to letterbox." I fully understand the letterbox format.
Can you explain what the matte format is?

I am interested in any speculation about how low the price of video
laserdiscs could drop to. Can you tell me of any articles about this, or
direct me to a publication that regularly covers the new medium of
entertainment-oriented video laserdiscs?

The US Criminal Code provides penalties for anyone transmitting content
through so-called indecent expression through the spectrum.

In the 1978 Pacifica v. FCC decision, the US Supreme Court ruled that this
regulation of electronic media content did not violate the First Amendment.
As a student of telecommunications regulation, I am alarmed to see attempts
to apply this law to media other than broadcast radio and TV. Can you offer any
strategies for extending to spectrum-dependent modes of expression the same
freedom that print media enjoys insofar as "indecency" is concerned?

Thanks!!!

Wayne Lee: wlee@csd4.csd.uwm.edu