GE shows 500GB holographic storage prototype

Airbot · 27 Apr 2009

General Electric on Monday announced it is working on a holographic storage medium that resembles a typical optical disc and allows it to store the equivalent of 100 DVDs, the NY Times reported this weekend. Holography, used for the three-dimensional images on some older credit cards for security, can also store binary data in the form of 1s and 0s. The next step involves GE making the technology usable in hardware that can be mass-produced at affordable prices. Holographic storage has the potential to more densely pack data that traditional mediums, including DVDs and Blu-ray discs. The data is encoded in light patterns that are stored in light-sensitive material, with the holograms acting like microscopic mirrors that refract light patterns when a laser shines on them.

Making the technology affordable has not been a focus, until now. InPhase Technologies has plans to introduce a holographic storage system, though at $18,000 for the machines and expensive discs, it is relegated to specialized business and industry markets. GE has been developing a new, less complex hologram technology called microholographic storage since 2003.

more: Electronista

jfar · 27 Apr 2009

Thanks,definitely one of the next best things for the PC.

gadgetboyj · 27 Apr 2009

jfar said:

Thanks,definitely one of the next best things for the PC.

AND the Mac.
AND the DVD Player
AND other stuff that uses disks.

YupYup · 27 Apr 2009

jfar said:

Thanks,definitely one of the next best things for the PC.

gadgetboyj said:

AND the Mac.
AND the DVD Player
AND other stuff that uses disks.

At $0.1 per GB it is not the best thing for your wallet.

Airbot · 27 Apr 2009

Of course it's not viable now and would cost a fortune, but it's a step in the right direction.

Romulinx2 · 27 Apr 2009

Looks good for the future. :)
I also heard that a competitor is working on a similar technology!

Yes, here's some more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_Versatile_Disc

jimbo45 · 28 Apr 2009

Airbot said:

Of course it's not viable now and would cost a fortune, but it's a step in the right direction.

Hi there

I have seen a demo on a HUGE LCD of the next generation of 3-D TV. One of the examples was a Football ("Soccer for US) game. It was a not to be forgotten experience. I felt is was actually better than being in the Stadium.

You could position yourself right behind the Goal as a Penalty was being taken.

(For those who don't know the rules - this is an 11 Metre free kick taken at the goalkeeper with all other players removed well away from this part of the field -- just a contest between kicker and goalkeeper -- awarded for serious infringements in the Goalkeepers "Penalty area". --I know it's amazing but there are actually some people on this planet who don't know how Football ("Soccer") is played ).

It was nearly as good as "Virtual Reality".

3-D will breathe new life into a flagging "LCD" market although initially I'm sure will be hideously expensive.

Can't wait for 3D monitors to appear as they certainly will. However this will require almost a "Quantum" leap in even top of the range current processors and certainly Video cards.

Cheers
jimbo

jfar · 28 Apr 2009

But not a penalty like this I hope.[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQtifrlJKDc&feature=channel"]YouTube - Penalty Kick Fail[/ame]