Blog 6: EOTO1 Post

VCR and Video 

The creator of the VCR and video was Charles Paulson Ginsburg, however, the first easy and affordable VCR was introduced by the Sony Corporation in 1969. The VCR was created to solve the problem of not being able to choose when to watch TV shows and movies. Before VCRs, people had to watch programs at specific times, which wasn't always convenient. With a VCR, they could record shows and watch them later, which made it easier and more efficient. According to Britannica, a VCR is an "electromechanical device that records, stores, and plays back television programs on a television set by means of a cassette of magnetic tape." The creation of VCRs made the technology better because it made people have more control. 

There was a case in 1984 called the “Betamax case" which Universal City Studios sued Sony corporation, claiming that Betamax VCRs encouraged people to illegally copy movies and TV shows. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sony, saying that recording shows for personal use was fair use. This made sure that people could record TV shows without breaking copyright laws, which helped make VCRs and similar devices popular in homes. 

VCR's made watching shows more efficient. According to Britannica, "Most VCRs have fast-forward and reverse controls and a timer that enables television programs to be recorded automatically, and they can record a program on one television channel while a viewer watches a program on another channel of the same television set." This feature made it so people can control what they are watching. According to EverPresent they state, "What truly stood out about the VCR wasn’t just that you could watch your favorite movies on demand, but you could even record live television. VCR recording allowed you to take any channel’s broadcast and put it on your own blank VHS tape." This was a huge benefit of having a VCR because it allowed for people to choose what they wanted to put on their VHS tape. According to Marshall Brain, "The VCR was one of the most important events in the history of TV because, for the first time, it gave people control of what they could watch on their TV sets." The VCR does two things. It manages the tape, which is thin and fragile. It also reads the information on the tapes and turns it into signals for the TV to display.

A negative effect of the VCR is that it is a complicated device. According to Alexander Katlan, he states, "The video cassette recorder may be a complex piece of electronics, but it is, after all, a non-scientific household appliance. The ease of use makes it applicable for many purposes where traditional photographic methods are too time-consuming or too difficult." Although the VCR is an efficient device, it can still be difficult to use. 

Overall, VCRs changed history. They changed how people watched movies and TV shows, giving viewers more control and helping to shape the entertainment industry for the future. Before the VCR, people had to wait to watch specific shows are certain times. It also helped the entertainment industry grow. As more people bought VCRs, there was a higher demand for VHS tapes, which helped other businesses grow. The VCR was a turning point in history, and was the starting point to more efficient technology.