DVD Demystified

DVD on Computers
can be enhanced with pop-up annotations and ancillary information to
enrich the learning process.
■ Customized advertising and commerce. A DVD-based department store
catalog could offer an interactive showcase of all the merchandise,
complete with audio and video. Because the disc is connected to the
store via the Internet, the consumer can get current prices, check
availability, order merchandise, communicate with a shopping
consultant, pay bills, and so on. The advantage of the DVD component is
that the customer does not have to wait for slow downloads of pictures
and even slower downloads of low-quality video. If the DVD is sent free
in the mail, it creates a push to get the customer to visit the Web site.
■ Sharing high-bandwidth content. Until high-speed Internet
connections are available between research groups and corporate
divisions, WebDVD is an excellent tool for sharing large collections of
data such as 3D visualizations, rendered graphics, and video
simulations. The video and data can be put on a recordable DVD and
shipped anywhere in the world. Recipients need only put the disc in
their DVD PC and connect to a Web page that provides playback
control, indexes, notes, and even collaborative discussions.
WebDVD Applications
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Obviously, WebDVD can be implemented easily on a computer. Traditional
set-top DVD-Video players can be enhanced with WebDVD capabilities, just
as Internet appliances can be enhanced with DVD drives. As the digital convergence
continues, other devices such as satellite receivers and cable boxes
will implement both Web and DVD features.
Still, most WebDVD development centers on Web browsers, specifically
Microsoft Internet Explorer, which provides the best development environment
for DVD. In addition, WebDVD applications can be created using PowerPoint,
Macromedia Director, ToolBook, Visual Basic, and other
multimedia tools. When references are made in this chapter to Web pages
controlling playback, keep in mind that the same thing can often be done in
other environments as well.
WebDVD applications can be built on existing standards and specifications
such as the ATSC’s DTV Application Software Environment (DASE),
the Advanced TV Enhancement Forum (ATVEF), the World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C), and, of course, the DVD Forum’s DVD-Video specification.