Betamax

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/betamax

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the format classification?Consumer analog videocassette recording format
2. What is the developer?Sony Corporation
3. Why did Betamax lose to VHS?Betamax had less recording time and Sony sold fewer players, while VHS was cheaper and could record longer, so more people chose VHS.
4. How long could Betamax record on a tape?The first Betamax tapes could record 60 minutes, later versions could record up to two hours but with lower picture quality.

Analog Videocassette: A magnetic tape recording medium in a cassette used for analog video and audio signals.
Format War: A competition between different technological standards for the same purpose, where one eventually dominates.
Time-Shifting: The practice of recording broadcast television programs to watch them at a later, more convenient time.
Licensing Strategy: The business approach a company takes regarding allowing other entities to use its patented technology or intellectual property.