" Hitachi, the Japanese multinational has come out with a technique that allows data to last forever and not degrade. Hitachi, in fact claims that it can preserve information for hundreds of millions of years. "
The technology utilizes a high precision laser that embeds information in the form of microscopic dots across a piece of quartz glass. The information is in the binary form in these microscopic dots. Once the dots are applied, any person wishing to read data from the glass chip can easily do so by just using an optical microscope. The optical microscope should be paired with a computer that is capable of deciphering the data imprinted on the glass chip.
The Chip is basically a square whose side measures two centimetres (0.8 inches) and is 2 millimetres thick. The glass chip is capable of storing up to four layers of dots and currently has a memory capacity of 40 MB per square inch. 40 MB of square inch is approximately equivalent to a music CD. But on the brighter side, more number of layers of dots means more memory capacity.
Another feather in the cap for this tiny masterpiece is the fact that it is essentially fireproof. The company had apparently heated the glass chip up to a temperature of 1000 degree Celsius and still was able to recover the information etched on the glass chip. Also, it is unaffected by radio waves and is still incorruptible when immersed in water. But, being a “glass” chip, it is breakable (though quartz is pretty hard to break).
This technology is practically applicable in storing information in government agencies or in places like museums. It is a fascinating way to archive historical and cultural and even religious data and I am sure that it’s going to be a scintillating battle between the spacious (but far less reliable) external hard drives and these tiny incorruptible and nearly indestructible glass chips.
The technology utilizes a high precision laser that embeds information in the form of microscopic dots across a piece of quartz glass. The information is in the binary form in these microscopic dots. Once the dots are applied, any person wishing to read data from the glass chip can easily do so by just using an optical microscope. The optical microscope should be paired with a computer that is capable of deciphering the data imprinted on the glass chip.
The Chip is basically a square whose side measures two centimetres (0.8 inches) and is 2 millimetres thick. The glass chip is capable of storing up to four layers of dots and currently has a memory capacity of 40 MB per square inch. 40 MB of square inch is approximately equivalent to a music CD. But on the brighter side, more number of layers of dots means more memory capacity.
Another feather in the cap for this tiny masterpiece is the fact that it is essentially fireproof. The company had apparently heated the glass chip up to a temperature of 1000 degree Celsius and still was able to recover the information etched on the glass chip. Also, it is unaffected by radio waves and is still incorruptible when immersed in water. But, being a “glass” chip, it is breakable (though quartz is pretty hard to break).
This technology is practically applicable in storing information in government agencies or in places like museums. It is a fascinating way to archive historical and cultural and even religious data and I am sure that it’s going to be a scintillating battle between the spacious (but far less reliable) external hard drives and these tiny incorruptible and nearly indestructible glass chips.
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