Сreated by Alina Volynskaya as part of the CD-Hist project, this timeline offers a detailed panorama of CD-ROM history, bringing together the stories of technologies, standards, devices, and the diverse genres and titles that shaped the medium.
The timeline is organized into thematic categories that together form an interconnected history of CD-ROM. Users can explore this history in two ways: by following the general chronological development of events—beginning with the emergence of optical disc technologies—or exploring specific categories, such as the histories of particular genres (CD-ROM encyclopedias, virtual museums, video games, or databases). For instance, selecting the Books and Encyclopedias category allows users to trace the journey from early products like Grolier’s Knowledge Disc to multimedia novels and the transition of encyclopedias to the Web. The Bundle of Genres category showcases the diversity of CD-ROM applications and their integration into popular culture, from medical CD-ROMs and edutainment to adult titles. The Hardware category focuses on CD-ROM drives and related devices, while the Market category follows the dynamics of the CD-ROM market and its key players. Technology & Industry traces the development of new formats, technologies, and the processes of their standardization. Finally, the Technological Context category broadens the narrative to include competing or complementary dalinaevices and the software that made CD-ROMs functional and accessible.
All these layers are visualized in a 3D interface, metaphorically reflecting the layered structure of a CD-ROM itself.
The timeline will continue to evolve and expand as the project progresses, providing a detailed account of CD-ROMs’ role in the digital culture since the 1980s.