When was the first DVD player invented?

There is much debate about who invented the DVD player and even when it was first invented, since the technology is derived from multiple sources, including several individuals and companies. When the acronym was first created, DVD stood for digital versatile disc, although now it stands for digital video disc.

The first manufacturer to bring a DVD player to the American market was Toshiba, who sold the first DVD players in 1997, although the players were available the year before in Japan. The first models sold for around $1,000. By comparison, low-end DVD players in 2014 can be purchased for $35 or so.