July 1, 2008

Cool use for older technology - the common recordable DVD

When you reach a limit in technology, you can either re-tool and develop a new system or you can think smart. Some researchers at Japan’s Tohoku University are thinking very smart these days. From The Register:
Boffins invent 42GB DVD
Blank DVDs are a cheaper storage option than Blu-ray, but the HD format has greater capacity. However, Japanese storage scientists claim to have invented a method for storing up to 42GB onto a single DVD.

Researchers from the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, based in Japan’s Tohoku University, have – according to Google’s translation of a document released by the university department – discovered a way to multiply the amount of data stored on a DVD. The group also claims to be able to replicate the method for CDs.

Essentially, the team states that by changing the shape of the data-storage pits from having a flat bottom to one that's a V shape, each pit will be able to hold more data. Changing the horizontal orientation of the tip of the valley, alters the way light is reflected by the pit. As a result, pits no longer represent binary 1s and 0s, but a range of values, effectively allowing each to record a byte rather than a bit.
I don't know if this will ever see the light of day as this would require all new readers and writers but it is definitely an interesting development that could just as well be applied to the next generation of optical disks -- a great hack! Posted by DaveH at July 1, 2008 1:27 PM | TrackBack
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