# DataPlay

> Optical disc format

**Wikidata**: [Q1172184](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1172184)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataPlay)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dataplay

## Summary
DataPlay is an optical disc format introduced in 1999. It is a removable, machine-readable medium that stores 250 megabytes of binary data. As a specific implementation of optical storage, it functions as a physical distribution medium encased in a protective shell.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: 1999
- **Classification**: Instance of an optical disc; subclass of optical storage, machine-readable medium, and removable media.
- **Storage Capacity**: 250 megabytes.
- **Aliases**: データプレイ (Japanese).
- **Website**: http://www.dataplay.com/
- **External Identifiers**: Freebase ID `/m/09ry_m`.
- **Wikimedia Commons**: Category "DataPlay"; Image resource `DataplayDrive.jpg`.
- **Wikipedia Presence**: Title "DataPlay"; available in 6 languages (Commons, German, English, Spanish, Japanese, Turkish).
- **Descriptive Sources**: Documented by the Museum of Obsolete Media and the Techmoan YouTube channel.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the storage capacity of the DataPlay format?
A: DataPlay discs have a storage capacity of 250 megabytes.

### Q: When was the DataPlay format introduced?
A: The format was inceptioned in 1999.

### Q: What type of storage medium is DataPlay classified as?
A: It is classified as an optical disc, utilizing laser-readable technology to store binary data.

## Why It Matters
DataPlay represents a specific evolution in the history of removable optical storage. While standard optical discs like CDs and DVDs measure 120 mm in diameter, DataPlay is part of a broader ecosystem of optical formats designed for varied physical sizes and use cases. It utilizes the core technology of the optical disc family—encoding binary data as microscopic pits and lands read by a laser—packaged into a specialized format. The existence of formats like DataPlay highlights the diversity of the pre-streaming media landscape, where various physical mediums competed for distribution and archival dominance. It serves as a case study in specialized media formats, documented by archivists of obsolete technology for its unique place in the lineage of laser-read storage.

## Notable For
- **Specific Capacity**: Distinct from standard capacities (such as the 700 MB CD or 4.7 GB DVD) with a defined limit of 250 megabytes.
- **Late-90s Inception**: Introduced in 1999, placing it in the transitional period between the CD and DVD eras.
- **Digital Heritage**: Preserved in the "Museum of Obsolete Media," marking it as a format of historical technological interest.
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Its documentation spans English, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Turkish Wikipedia entries, indicating global awareness of the format.

## Body

### Definition and Core Technology
DataPlay is an optical disc format. It operates on the fundamental principles of optical storage, functioning as a flat, removable medium that encodes binary data. The reading process involves a low-power laser reflecting off microscopic pits and lands on the disc's surface; these variations in reflected light are interpreted as binary data. As a subclass of optical storage, it shares the characteristics of being a machine-readable medium and computer storage media.

### Technical Specifications
The defining technical attribute of the DataPlay format is its storage capacity. It is designed to hold exactly **250 megabytes** of data. This capacity positions it distinctively between the standard floppy disks of the era and the larger 650–700 MB capacity of standard Compact Discs (CDs).

### History and Timeline
The format was officially inceptioned in **1999**. This places its development in the wake of the widespread adoption of the CD (introduced 1979) and alongside the rising dominance of the DVD (introduced 1995).

### Digital Footprint and Sources
DataPlay maintains a presence across several digital archives and knowledge bases:
- **Wikimedia**: It has a dedicated Wikipedia title "DataPlay" and a Commons category containing related media, such as the image `DataplayDrive.jpg`.
- **Coverage**: It is extensively described by the **Museum of Obsolete Media**, which catalogs legacy storage formats. Additionally, it has been reviewed and discussed in modern media by **Techmoan**, a technology channel focused on retro and obscure hardware.
- **Global Reach**: Wikipedia entries for DataPlay exist in five languages besides English: German (`de`), Spanish (`es`), Japanese (`ja`), Turkish (`tr`), and on Wikimedia Commons.

### Identifiers
The entity is indexed in major knowledge graphs:
- **Freebase ID**: `/m/09ry_m`
- **Wikipedia Title**: `DataPlay`
- **Japanese Alias**: `データプレイ`

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013