While the VCR has served the consumer well for almost three decades, several technologies have been introduced that have the potential to displace the VCR from use entirely in several years.
One recent technology in this category is the Tapeless VCR, often referred to as a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) or PVR (Personal Video Recorder). Merging with computer technology, this device records television programs on a computer-type hard drive. Programmed by using simple on-screen interactive menus, this unit can store several hours of programming which can be viewed later, erased and used again. No more need to fumble for that blank tape you misplaced. In addition, some satellite providers and cable companies are offering the hard disk video recorder as an option in their set-top boxes, giving the consumer the ability to store several hours of programming, for viewing later, without the need of a VCR at all.
The next technology in play to displace the VCR is Interactive Television. From programming services associated with TIVO and ReplayTV, to VOD (Video On Demand), broadband cable services, and more, the consumer has instant access to a whole library of programming stored outside the home. In addition, some VOD services even allow the consumer to freeze-frame, rewind, fast-forward the program being viewed just as if watching it on a VCR. TV viewing doesn't get more personal than that.
Finally, the advent of recordable DVD has the potential to deal the final deathblow to the VCR, even if DVRs and Interactive Television services fail to. With DVD now in over 40% of U.S. homes (as of 2002), and increasing its sales of both players and movies every year, recordable DVD units are also now firmly established in the consumer market (as of 2002).
Although there are several competing recordable DVD formats at present, the potential of DVD as both a viewing and recording medium is definitely practical, with its increased video and audio performance. Also, with easy storage, random access, and re-writeability, recordable DVD is currently superceding hard-disk based video recorders as well. Even with JVC's recent announcement of its backward compatible D-VHS format, several manufacturer's have announced progress towards developing high definition DVD formats for both playback and recording, which should debut in the comsumer market in late 2004 or early 2005 (finally arrived in 2006 in the form of HD-DVD and Blu-ray.
