Digital Cinema Technology And The Future Of Movies

Digital cinema relates to adoption of digital technologies in the film industry rather than the older conventional use of mechanical reels of mechanically moving motion picture film, for example, 35mm films. The term "digital" can refer to many things. Digital is increasingly being used to refer to computerized or digital elements of cinema, and "cinema" to refer to any type of live action and/or animated work (in other words, motion pictures). The major differentiating factor between a conventional film and digital cinema is the use of digital technology.

The evolution of digital cinema is traceable to changes in the availability and affordability of high-speed broadband access. In the early 1990s, when digital cinema systems first appeared on the market, they were expensive and not widely available. Only the largest movie theaters and the most affluent users were able to avail of this technology. Digital projectors (DCP) first appeared on the market sometime later. With the increased availability of broadband and digital projectors, digital cinema became accessible to nearly everyone.

DCP-based digital theaters include Dolby Digital and DVCAMs (digitally encoded video compression methods) that provide improved picture and sound quality over the compressed file representation of conventional movie theaters. Digital projection was made possible for the general public, and the pricing and benefits of DCP/DVCAM technology grew dramatically. By the end of 1997, digital theaters made up about one percent of the theaters worldwide market.

Digital projection is the process of capturing and reproducing the images of a digital motion picture projector onto the theatre screen using a source medium such as a television, projector, or projector cartridge. DVCAMs, which include compression methods and advanced features such as "frames," "windowing," and "post-process effects," allow for the progressive display of digital motion pictures. Digital distribution uses sophisticated devices such as digital projectors, DVD burners, VCRs, and satellite television providers to provide digital cinema presentations. Digital distribution companies use DVCAMs and other digital video formats to provide seamless access to digital motion picture content.

The cost and technical aspects of digital projection are changing rapidly with technological developments. Improved compression methods and image stabilization are lowering the costs of digital cinema presentations. Improved DVCAM compression methods are also making digital projection more accessible to the general public. The success of digital cinema makes it essential for distributors to continue to develop and improve digital projection hardware and software. Advanced digital projection equipment includes state-of-the-art projectors, digital projectors with CCDs (colors/structure combinations), and advanced television display technologies.

The future of entertainment is definitely in the hands of the user. Digital technology has changed the way we watch and talk about movies, and with the constantly advancing technology of digital cinema projectors it's going to change how we do everything else. With the ever increasing popularity of digital movie projectors, digital projection companies are adapting to meet consumer demand. These companies are investing heavily in research, development, and marketing to maintain their competitive edge. This will hopefully benefit consumers in the years to come who appreciate the fine quality and high-tech details that have gone into creating these technologically superior entertainment products.