# Capacitance Electronic Disc

> analog video disc playback system developed by RCA

**Wikidata**: [Q3246349](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3246349)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance_Electronic_Disc)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/capacitance-electronic-disc

## Summary
The **Capacitance Electronic Disc** (CED), also known as the **Capacitance Electronic Disk** or **CED system**, is an analog video disc playback system developed by **RCA Corporation** in 1981. It was a type of videodisc that used a stylus to read data stored on a flat, circular disc, similar to how a phonograph record is read. The CED was part of the broader class of videodisc technologies, which also included the laser-read LaserDisc format.

## Key Facts
- The **Capacitance Electronic Disc** was developed by **RCA Corporation** in **1981**.
- It is a **stylus-readable** analog video disc system, distinct from the **laser-readable** LaserDisc.
- CED was part of the **videodisc** class of media formats, which also includes **LaserDisc** and **Video High Density**.
- CEDs were **introduced in 1981** as an alternative to VHS and Betamax for home video playback.
- The system used **capacitive sensing technology** to read variations in capacitance to reproduce analog video and audio.
- The **CED format** was a **pioneering home video format** that allowed users to watch movies on a disc-based system.
- It was **marketed as a consumer electronics product** in the U.S. from 1981 to 1985.
- CEDs were **compatible with RCA's SelectaVision system**, a proprietary playback device.
- The format was **discontinued by 1985**, with **limited commercial success** due to competition from VHS and Betamax.
- The CED is classified under **optical disc** and **video system** categories, but it used **capacitive stylus reading** rather than optical laser reading.
- It is also known by several aliases, including **CED**, **Capacitance Electronic Disc**, and **Video Electronic Disk**.
- The **Capacitance Electronic Disc** was **not a digital format**, but an analog system that stored video and audio data on a flat, circular disc.
- It was **notably less popular** than the LaserDisc, which used a laser instead of a stylus.

## FAQs
### What is the Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED)?
The **Capacitance Electronic Disc** (CED) is an **analog video disc playback system** developed by **RCA** in **1981**. It was a part of the broader **videodisc** family of formats and used a **stylus** to read the data encoded on the disc, similar to how a phonograph record is read.

### What technology did the CED use to read data?
The CED used **capacitive sensing technology** to interpret variations in the disc’s surface, which were read by a **stylus**. This is in contrast to the **LaserDisc**, which used a **laser** to read data.

### How does the CED compare to other video formats like VHS and Betamax?
While the CED was introduced as an alternative to **VHS** and **Betamax**, it was **less successful** due to **limited disc availability** and **inferior marketing**. It also faced competition from the more popular **LaserDisc** format, which used **laser-based reading** and had better commercial traction.

### What was the commercial lifespan of the CED?
The CED was **marketed from 1981 to 1985**, but was **discontinued** due to **low consumer adoption** and the **rising popularity of VHS and Betamax**.

### What is the legacy of the CED?
The CED was a **pioneer in analog video disc technology**, but it was **overshadowed by digital formats** and **laser-based systems** like the **LaserDisc**. It represented a unique approach to home video playback but was ultimately **phased out** in favor of more successful formats.

## Why It Matters
The **Capacitance Electronic Disc** was a **significant early attempt** at delivering **analog video content** on a flat, circular disc using a **stylus-based reading mechanism**. It was part of the broader **evolution of home video formats**, competing with **VHS**, **Betamax**, and **LaserDisc**. Though it had a short commercial life, it represented a **technical innovation** in **stylus-based video disc systems**, and its development showcased **RCA’s commitment** to exploring new media technologies. It also played a role in the **transition from analog to digital** in home video systems.

## Notable For
- **First analog video disc system to use capacitive stylus reading** instead of a laser.
- **Pioneering use of a stylus to read video data** from a flat, circular disc.
- **Developed by RCA in 1981** as part of the broader **videodisc** category.
- **Used a capacitive sensing mechanism** to interpret the disc's data.
- **Less successful than the LaserDisc**, which used a laser to read data and had better market penetration.
- **Discontinued by 1985** due to limited consumer adoption and competition from VHS and Betamax.

## Body

### History
The **Capacitance Electronic Disc** (CED) was introduced by **RCA** in **1981** as part of its **SelectaVision** line of home video systems. It was designed to compete with **VHS** and **Betamax** but used a **capacitive stylus** to read the disc, rather than a laser. The CED was a **pioneer in analog video disc technology**, and its **introduction** coincided with the early **adoption of home video systems** like **VHS** and **Betamax**. However, it was **discontinued by 1985** due to **limited success** in the consumer market.

### Technology
The **CED** used a **capacitive stylus** to read **analog video data** from a **flat, circular disc**. This made it distinct from **LaserDisc**, which used a **laser** to read data. The **CED** was part of the **videodisc** class of media formats, which also included **LaserDisc** and **Video High Density**. It was **less successful** than the **LaserDisc**, which used a **laser** to read data, and the CED was **discontinued** by 1985.

### Legacy and Impact
The **CED** was a **pioneer in analog video disc technology** and was **part of the broader evolution of home video systems**. It was **overshadowed by digital formats** and **laser-based systems** like the **LaserDisc**, which had better market penetration. The **CED** was **discontinued by 1985** due to **limited consumer adoption** and competition from **VHS** and **Betamax**.

### Technical Specifications
- **Reading Mechanism**: Capacitive Stylus
- **Format Type**: Analog Video Disc
- **Developed by**: RCA Corporation
- **Inception**: 1981
- **Discontinued**: 1985
- **Part of**: videodisc (class)
- **Also Known As**: CED, Capacitance Electronic Disc, Video Electronic Disk
- **Aliases**: CED, Video Electronic Disk, Disco de Capacitancia Electronica, Disco de Capacitancia Electrónica, Capacitance Electronic Disc, CED (视频播放系统), CED (影片播放系统), Ёмкостной Электронный Диск

### Related Systems
- **LaserDisc** used a **laser** to read data and was **more commercially successful** than the CED.
- **VHS** and **Betamax** were **analog video systems** that were more **popular than the CED**.
- **Video High Density** was another **videodisc** format, though **less common** than the **LaserDisc**.

### Cultural Context
The **CED** was part of the **evolution of home video systems**, and it was **developed in 1981** as a **pioneer in analog video disc technology**. It was **overshadowed by digital formats** and **laser-based systems** like the **LaserDisc**, which had better market penetration. The **CED** was **discontinued by 1985** due to **limited consumer adoption** and competition from **VHS** and **Betamax**.

### Technical Innovation
The **CED** was a **pioneer in analog video disc technology** and used a **capacitive stylus** to read the disc, rather than a **laser**. This made it **distinct from the LaserDisc**, which used a **laser** to read data. The **CED** was **part of the broader evolution of home video systems**, and it was **discontinued by 1985** due to **limited consumer adoption** and competition from **VHS** and **Betamax**.

### Market Competition
The **CED** was **competing with VHS** and **Betamax** at the time, but it was **less successful** due to **limited disc availability** and **inferior marketing**. It was **discontinued by 1985** due to **low consumer adoption** and competition from **VHS** and **Betamax**.

### Legacy
The **CED** was a **pioneer in analog video disc technology**, and its **introduction** coincided with the early **adoption of home video systems** like **VHS** and **Betamax**. However, it was **overshadowed by digital formats** and **laser-based systems** like the **LaserDisc**, which had better market penetration. The **CED** was **discontinued by 1985** due to **limited consumer adoption** and competition from **VHS** and **Betamax**.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013