holographic data storage breaks the surface barrier

We are reaching the physical limits of capacity for storage of data as individual bits on media surfaces. In the case of holographic storage, information is encoded in optically sensitive material as three- dimensional laser interference patterns. The capacity to store information permeating the detail of data storage media, not merely on its surface, opens the door for many times more storage density than conventional data media. Holotech information storage may offer more quick access quicknesss and also high storage compression. Laser rays do not have inertia like the mechanical reading and writing components of traditional, rotating media -- so the beams can move quickly to light up ordered pages of information. There are challenges, however. One hurdle for holotechnology information storage is that the strength of each page of information stored three-dimensionally throughout the depth of optically sensitive media decreases when there are too many pages saved in the media. Holotouch: Holographic Keypad also has interesting notes on this holotechnology topic.

Right now, DVDs and CDs are still the main vehicles for mobile information recordable media for music, video, and information. Such traditional information recordable media store data as discrete dots on the surface of the recording medium and the medium should be spun around to read the information. The price of saving information is decreasing but the need, however, for archival data storage has been increasing even more promptly. Holotech information storage opens the door to saving data at much higher densities than CDs and DVDs by saving information three- dimensionally throughout the thickness of the storage media. Holographic Virtual Reality provides more information.

Holographic Disks for more on this topic.