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25 Nov 2005
A computer disc about the size of a DVD that can hold 60 times more data will go on sale in 2006, according to its American developer InPhase Technologies, a Lucent spin off.
The discs, holding 300GB each, use so-called Tapestry holographic memory technology to store data by interference of light. They are also able to read and write data at 10 times the speed of a normal DVD.
InPhase Technologies has formed an alliance with Hitachi/Maxell to market and sell the discs. The first public demonstration was held at the International Broadcast Equipment Exhibition last week in Tokyo.
Tapestry can store more than 26 hours of broadcast-quality high-definition video on a single 300GB disk, recorded at a data rate of 160Mbps. The discs are 13cm in diameter and a little wider and thicker than conventional DVDs.
Normal DVDs record data by measuring microscopic ridges on the surface of a spinning disc. Two competing successors to the DVD format - Blu-ray and HD-DVD - use the same technique, but exploit shorter wavelengths of light to cram more information onto the surface.
The Tapestry system uses light from a single laser split into two beams: the signal beam and the reference beam. The hologram is formed where these two beams intersect in the recording medium.
The process for encoding data onto the signal beam is accomplished by a device called a spatial light modulator, which translates the electronic data of 0s and 1s into an optical 'checkerboard' pattern of light and dark pixels. The data is arranged in an array or 'page' of around a million bits.
At the point of intersection of the reference beam and the signal beam, the hologram is recorded in the light sensitive storage medium. A chemical reaction occurs in the medium when the bright elements of the signal beam intersect the reference beam, causing the hologram.
By varying the reference beam angle, wavelength or media position many different holograms can be recorded in the same volume of material.
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Costs & Shelf Life
The technology is currently only focused on the corporate environment where high storage capacity is critical. Turner Broadcasting is a first mover in that they're the first to use the technology to store their videos. Costs is about $15,000 for the reader with discs costing $130. Shelf life(after use) for holographic technology is a maximum 50 years with 10 media storage life (before use).
Posted by: Jimbo 01 Nov 2006
Potentially Disruptive
If viewing this technology through Porter's 5 forces, supply chain analysis and SWOT then it is potentially disruptive. There are enough high entry barrier for vendors to attain a competitive advantage but sadly it's not sustainable.
Posted by: Jimbo332 01 Nov 2006
some quests...
how much does it cost? can i buy it now? how do i burn on it? how much does it weight? thanks for answering me.
Posted by: liv 19 Feb 2006
Sounds great
This sound perfect for my server storage in the workplace, currently i use a AIT3 100/200gb tape drive. How will this compare to dat and ait backup solutions in reliability and price?
Posted by: Andy D 07 Dec 2005
Shelf life question: importance of being anal about spelling
Has anyone any information about the expected shelf life of this new medium? phisics is obviously a typo - why do people put expend so much time and effort reacting anally retentive to something so trivial - or is this an exclusive club for the perfectly anal?
Posted by: SR 06 Dec 2005
It's eureka, not ureka
Are you really a teacher? ;)
Posted by: Paco 06 Dec 2005
of course we need space!
Well it is no use to compare it with DVD for just only DVD-Video... I use DVD media for my data backups as well. And I think 300 GB is a fit match for my needs.. I have 1 TB HDD space on my personal computer and it is now almost full.. If it ever gets to us users. I would gladly buy a recorder for this.
Posted by: Plato 06 Dec 2005
Stability concerns
Anyone ever gone back to a CDR or DVD-R after six months only to find it unreadable? That's only 9GB lost. How stable are these 300GB disks gonna be if exposed to light over time like older disks often are? PS check spelling before posting, teacher. >>> (E)ureka!
Posted by: Catherine 06 Dec 2005
Too much - no way just perfect for all those pictures
The others just don't understand our needs for more storage. We will need this storage for our 8 mega pixal photos, etc.
Posted by: mike mccullough 06 Dec 2005
what about harddisk
hologarphic harddisk in future
Posted by: arun 30 Nov 2005
teacher
a scientist who cannot spell physics? ureka!
Posted by: the teacher 30 Nov 2005
phisics?
ah yes, phisics, the wonderful study of holographic images.
Posted by: The Scientist 29 Nov 2005
How about a 1TB disc instead?
300GB is nothing. Optware is developing disc that will hold up to a terabyte of info. They will start out at around 200GB and work their way up. Check out their site. http://www.optware.co.jp/english/index_tech.htm
Posted by: Rob 29 Nov 2005
Cool
It seems really cool. How many magahertz is it supposed to be though?
Posted by: Firefox 29 Nov 2005
why so much space!!!!!!
my beleif is that the only ones taht r going to take advantage of this tecnology are the computer buisneses,because quite frankly, we dont really need something so big to cover our needs in terms of data storage, plus, there being so many ideas come true will make a conflict when it comes to setting a standard. (take zip disks for an example)
Posted by: coldman64 29 Nov 2005
About time
I read about this technique whilst studying Physics at college, from a 1965 phisics text book. The process and capacity are the same as in that text book and I am glad that some one has finally tried to make one. Let's hope it works.
Posted by: Nick Butler 28 Nov 2005
Awesome
This is awesome so much for blu-ray and the like competing over who has the best format.
Posted by: John 28 Nov 2005
Seeing is Believing
I've been in the optical industry for 25 years, and seen it kill itself with "surface recording". There is nothing easy about Holographic recording, and I wouldn't hold my breath betting that it will outsell DVD or Blue recording. Price and reliability are king, not capacity and speed
Posted by: ted rees 28 Nov 2005
My new backup format
I read about this years ago, and since then they brought the concept to reality faster than it's taken the others to even finalize their own format on paper. With few (or no) moving parts, such fast read/write speeds, and huge capacity, this is a no-brainer as the backup medium.
Posted by: cold wolf 27 Nov 2005
Stupid Journalism
InPhase's new holo disc technology is not in any way a threat to DVD's. It has none of the built in functionality needed for a commercial retail format. It is not and never will be intended to put commercial content on and has no protections whatsoever. Making the assumption that a new storage media is automatically a 'threat to DVD' is lazy stupid journalism and has no place here!
Posted by: Bob Smalls 27 Nov 2005