The Overlooked Innovation That Paved the Way for Modern Video Editing
In 1987, an unremarkable device emerged that would eventually give rise to a staggering $40 billion industry. This groundbreaking invention was none other than the Videonics DirectED Plus. If you’re scratching your head in confusion, you’re not alone; many people have forgotten this pivotal gadget.
So what exactly is the Videonics DirectED Plus? At its core, it’s a modestly sized box measuring 9 ½” by 8 ½” by 2 ½”, equipped with a mere 256KB of RAM and powered by an Intel 80166 CPU. This device empowered everyday users to edit their home videos long before video editing software like Adobe Premiere became commonplace and well before we had sophisticated video editing tools at our fingertips.
A Glimpse into Its Functionality
In May of 1988, William J. Hawkins highlighted its capabilities in an article for Popular Science. He described how users could create home movies using their camcorders and then play them back through the DirectED:
“Record your family moments with a camcorder, then use DirectED to play back those recordings. As you view your footage, utilize the included remote control to mark specific scenes—like ‘Laura’s Birthday’—and add special effects such as transitions or text overlays where desired. The interface displays menus alongside your video while storing all selections in its memory.”
Why Did It Fade from Memory?
Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? Yet despite its innovative features, the DirectED has largely vanished from technological discussions today. Kevin Lieber from Popular Science delves into this fascinating history while also attempting to operate this once-revolutionary device.
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The original post can be found at:
The Forgotten Technology That Made YouTube Possible.
