Just like how we consume meals every day, we also consume media content several times a day—becoming part of our personal cycle. Streaming services such as
Lionsgate Play,
HBO GO, and
Viu, provide us easy access to the content we love with its large library. And it is because of this convenience and accessibility, we tend to forget the technology that began this revolution for entertainment.
Yes, I am referring to the classic VHS tape. It is evident that VHS tapes are no longer used in our modern society, however, their legacy lives on in the form of the services we get to enjoy today. By taking a moment to appreciate the humble origins of this technology, we can gain a greater appreciation for the convenience and endless options provided by today's streaming services.
The origin of Video Home System
From Polyvinyl Records Official GIPHY
The Video Home System or the “VHS” tape was first introduced around the 1970s by the Japanese electronics company called JVC. This device was initially created as a consumer-friendly alternative to the Betamax format. These tapes were larger and were noted to have longer recording time which appealed to media-hungry customers. By the 1980s, the VHS had taken flight, becoming a dominant home video format that can be enjoyed from the comfort of our homes, hence the rise of rental markets.
How did these small blocks of joy work?
VHS tapes work by using magnetic tape to record and playback both audio and video signals. This peculiar tape is crafted with a plastic substrate coated with magnetic material. The VHS player then reads this magnetic information from the tape which is then converted to an electrical signal that is sent for decoding. The tape is read and written in a helical pattern, where the head rotates diagonally across the tape while the tape is moving linearly, allowing for the maximum amount of data to be stored on the tape. It is because of this pattern the VHS is able to record up to six hours of video in standard mode, and up to two hours in higher quality.
It’s amazing how these small devices can hold so much technology, right? I personally didn’t know the intrinsic tech inside, instead, I used them as barricades for my hot wheels.
From Uninterrupted Official GIPHY
This just shows that the kids of today didn’t understand the monumental pieces their households stored. And hopefully, with this piece, we can bring everyone closer into appreciating the advancement of technology we have today.
We salute you, VHS tapes.
With that said, let us move forward and continue to enjoy the convenient streaming services we have today. In order to actually do that, we must have an Internet connection that we can keep. With PLDT Home Fiber Plus plans, you will be able to keep up with all the shows you love and more! Have ‘em upgraded today.