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New optical disc made from paper

TOKYO, JAPAN (Reuters) -- Japanese electronics conglomerate Sony Corp and Toppan Printing Co Ltd have developed a new optical disc, made mostly from paper, that they say will be compatible with next-generation DVD technology.

In a joint news release distributed late Thursday, the two companies said the new disc was comprised 51 percent of paper, enabling lower production costs.

The disc can store up to five times more information than current discs, because it is based on blue-laser DVD technology.

Blue-laser DVD players are expected to replace the current generation of red-laser DVD players in a few years' time.

The paper disc is based on a version of a blue-laser DVD technology, called Blu-Ray, that is supported by a consortium of electronics makers including Sony, Matsushita Electric Industrial and Dutch firm Philips

Toppan, the world's leading maker of color filters for liquid crystal displays, said the new discs could be more secure, since disposal of used discs can be done easily.

The two companies said they planned to continue development of the disc for practical use.

Posted by thinkum at April 19, 2004 08:05 PM