GE Holographic Storage: the Next Optical Frontier

Americans always want bigger and better. Think Blu-Ray is the last frontier? Think again, Spock. Holographic discs may be the next breakthrough for storing information. Instead of being etched with patterns only on the surface, a holo-disc saves data throughout its interior. When the first holographic discs hit the market next year, users will need to buy expensive systems (the early adopter tax) to handle the 300GB discs. But scientists at GE Global Research are working on a laser system that can read CD, DVD and holo-discs. That system may hit the market in 2012. So be smart– don’t go out and upgrade your DVD collection to Blu-Ray just yet…  [ge]