The article is more than 16 years old

Boom in Copying Home Videos into Digital Form

Many Finns have been copying their old home videos into digital form with the help of a DVD recorder. High on the list of old tapes are those from weddings and others showing children at a tender age. However, some tears have been shed when images fade away from tapes over 20 years old.

21.7.2008 19:59Updated 1.11.2008 2:25

In the world of video, digital technology has overtaken analogue tapes long ago. Indeed, buying a new VHS recorder has become difficult; most homes now possess a DVD player.

Many companies will happily transfer peoples' domestic videos from old VHS or Beta tapes to DVD but warn that time may be running out for some. VHS and other tapes tend to fade out if over 20 years old. The quicker tapes containing material of sentimental value are copied, the better, say video firms.

In the business sector, too, companies are transferring their historical video archives into digital form. According to some estimates, certain DVD discs will keep images safe and sound for a hundred years. But given the demise of analogue tapes and recorders, the question arises: will DVD machines be around in the year 2108 ?