GE to stuff 500GB on a single disc

Halographic Disc with Massive 500GB

General Electric’s (GE) technological arm proclaims that it has devised a way of storing up to 500GB of data on a normal DVD sized disc. This breakthrough was attained by writing 3D patterns, which represent data onto a disc made out of micro-holographic technology. The disc then works as a mirror which makes it possible for a laser to read complete data stored in it.

The prospects of this holographic data storage have many of the potential consumers excited. Still in its research phase, it shows a potential of storing up to 500GB of data, or you can say 100 DVD’s in a single disc. This is way ahead of Blu-Ray disc that has a maximum capacity of 50GB.

GE’s ultimate goal is to be able to store 1TB of data on a single disc. The holographic disc player will also be compatible with Blu-ray discs, DVD’s, and CD’s. GE is targeting business consumers like medical researchers, movie studios as of now, but their final goal is to see these new disc players in every home.

Confounding Issues

While everything about this disc sounds great, it still leaves one wondering about certain issues. With an awful experience of switching players with the introduction of Blu-ray discs, buyers would be skeptical to buy this new player.

Another concern is: Would there be a big commercial market for the disc in 2011/12 when we have external drives of up to 1.5TB available right now? Streaming content from the Internet and embedding it in TV’s would also be a serious problem for GE.

Having said that, GE can still see a ray of hope in the data storage community. With the predicted price of $50 per disc, which will come down with mass production, storing more than 100 DVD’s on one disc would be a cheaper option as compared to Blu-ray discs and DVD’s.

Though GE have announced about this breakthrough technology, it is not the first one to do so. Companies like, InPhase Technologies and Maxell, Call/Recall and Optware have also conceived the idea of holographic discs, but nothing ever materialized.

We hope that if not its competitors, at least GE finds a way to steer this disc from the research lab to your cozy homes.