When Sony/Philips technology released the first Digital Video Disc (DVD) digital technology's goal in the early 90's, it was toward a goal to enable a world united by one language. We've come along way since then with the advent of high definition DVDs. The war continues as to which format will replace standard DVDs in the future, especially after the recent Warner Bros. Entertainment decision to support Blue-ray technology over the rival format, HD DVD.

"We are getting close to the spontaneous emergence of global network-based virtual awareness. In a very short period of time, the worlds of printing and publishing changed dramatically, and as the Internet wakes up, technology continues to congeal into one global interconnected network," says the author of The Extreme Future, James Canton.

What is the difference between HD DVD and Blue-ray? "The difference is that they are different formats of discs that are used to deliver content to the end user. Both formats support high definition video, and have nothing to do with resolution," says one DVD duplication services provider, Asheesh Barman, of Acutrack, Inc.

There is confusion about the video resolution of each format. Both formats support high definition video format. High definition video is what standard definition DVD video quality was to VHS video quality back in the old days. High definition video is 720 lines to 1080 lines on the TV screen. By comparison, the now old standard NTSC format used in the US and North America is only 480 lines of resolution.

HD DVD is easier and less expensive to manufacture, and the interactive component which was co-developed by Microsoft Toshiba and Disney, is much easier to use. The value is in authoring capabilities because the discs are not as expensive.

Also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), it is a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). Developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data, the format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. The capacity is needed because films in high definition video are space consuming.

Whereas HD DVD is an optical disc format that stands for High-Definition Digital Versatile Disc. It uses a laser, which allows for far more data density per disc than a standard DVD. That means HD DVD delivers six times the picture resolution of normal DVDs, up to 7.1 channels of high-resolution audio, and interactivity and bonus content capabilities.

Blu-ray discs come in single and dual layers. Blue-rey 25 holds 25 gigabytes (GB) of data, while the Blue-rey 50 holds 50 GB. HD DVD has three versions including single layer with 15 GB, dual layer with 30 GB and triple layer with 51 GB. There's basically no difference in the audio and video qualities, just some differences in features.

Why do we need both formats? We don't need it, but technology seems to work this way - each company offers different features. Another example of this type of format war is evident in the photography world. Many new technology companies spent money researching, patenting and trade marking first SD cards, then memory sticks, and flash cards, etc.; each hoping to offer different features and beat the others in benefits in an effort to win end users and reap the gains for years to come.

For new independent filmmakers, general content producers, trainers and documentarians, the costs are the main consideration. They are not all shooting their films in high def yet. Unless they are working with a major studio, they cannot afford HD DVD or Blu-ray. For DVD replication of 500 to 1000 copies of a film on HD DVD or Blu-Ray, it would be too expensive. Plus, authoring the first master disc is still fairly complex at least when it comes to Blu-Ray thereby again adding more production costs.. HD authoring by comparison is relatively easier., but still not cost effective for the indepensent artist.

They can focus on producing content and marketing their work in the meantime. Many of them are using the new on demand publishing model -- a concept in which physical discs containing music or videos, are not manufactured, printed, packaged and fulfilled until after an order for them has been received.

HD DVD and Blu-Ray are not the only options out there to deliver high definition content. There are other media available to content producers to distribute their hi-def content on - such as USB flash drives. Apple's new MacBook Air, does not even come with a drive as a standard option. Users must buy an optional super drive. Solid state or flash devices are a great option and the costs for these devices are coming down fast.

Interestingly, according to the futurist, "We will spend more than $5 trillion over the next decade to create a new global telecom system - leading us to the next generation Internet, and quantum computing, " Canton continued. "With more than 1 billion people connected to the Internet today, futurists predict that by the year 2015 there will be more than 3 billion people online and eCommerce [and digital downloads] will reach more than $160 trillion."