Holographic Storage - Storage for the rich coming soon
3D Holographic storage is not that different from the glass cube memorabilia we see in our local mall. The storage mechanisms are similar, in fact just as the perspective changes when turned so does the data in a HS system. Holograms use two coherent laser beams - a reference beam and an illumination beam - to create an interference pattern that is recorded on photosensitive media. Shine a laser on the recorded interference pattern and the original image is reconstructed in glorious 3D. As the laser moves around - or you do - you see the image from different perspectives. Holographic storage has a couple of neat properties. A small fragment of a hologram can reconstruct the entire data image. The fragment will not let you move as far around the image, but for 2D images, like a photograph, it means a scratch isn't fatal. Data density is theoretically unlimited. By varying the angle between the reference and illumination beams - or the angle of the media - hundreds of holograms can be stored in the same physical area. Another factor: photographic media has the longest proven lifespan - over a century - of any modern media. Since there is no physical contact you can read the media millions of times with no degradation. InPhase's target market is archiving. They've spec'd the optical media they use - a 5.25″ clear disk in a cartridge - at 50 years. For film and video companies whose data is literally irreplaceable a stable, compact and random access medium is a no-brainer.
A price of $18,000 will keep most of us from buying it as soon as it's out. The quantity 1 media price of $180 for 300 GB looks expensive to us, but quite reasonable compared with the cost of 35mm film stock and long-term storage. 15 years ago a 3x CD reader cost a few hundred dollars. Perhaps in 15 years holographic burners will be $50 and the media less than a $1. You can view a video of the device and media with VP Liz Murphy talking about the company and the product. The clear yellow plastic cover on the device is for display purposes only.
