Data storage media is a vital part of computing technology and it has evolved from magnetic tapes to hard drives to optical drives and USB drives. However, the growth and development process seems never-ending growing needs of the customers or the expert’s quest for achieving more. This has prompted inventors to work on more sophisticated techniques in coming up with digital technologies to meet the growing storage needs of tomorrow.

The Future of the Storage Media

Storage devices such as CDs, DVDs and hard drives take just a few milliseconds to perform operations. They are able to store data of a few MB to several GB. However, our growing storage needs now demand a device that can perform the task in microseconds and store even higher data. To meet these requirements, there is widespread research being carried out around the globe. Researchers have been able to come up with technologies that promise to meet the challenge. The more prominent among them are listed below:

1. Holographic memory
2. Molecular memory
3. MRAM chips

Let us discuss these technologies and the advantages that each of them has to offer:

1. Holographic Memory

It might not be long before InSpace comes up with the first storage device using holography. A single disc is expected to have about 300 GB of storage and it is promising to go up to 1.6 Tbytes in the next three years. Apart from having an access speed of just a few microseconds, these devices are said to retain data safely for about 50 years.

This technology involves reading and writing data on a storage device by focusing a light beam. Since the light beam can be deflected by a device, the operation will be performed without the spinning of the storage media. The absence of mechanical movement reduces the chances of wear and tear thereby increasing its lifespan.

Holography uses three dimensional storage media. That is, the data is written and retrieved in blocks rather than using just the surface of the storage device like in the case of CDs or DVDs. So, they are able to read and write data simultaneously in huge blocks instead of in a serial pattern, thereby increasing the processing speed.

2. Molecular Memory

Do you know that in the future you might be using protein molecules to store data? The work was started by researchers at W.M. Keck Centre for Molecular Electronic. In this technology, a protein molecule called bacteriorhodopsin is used as storage media. When exposed to a light beam, these molecules become ideal means to store the logical data and can also switch from one state to another. The intermediate states for these molecules are bR state and Q state corresponding to the logical values of 0 and 1 respectively.

Since they are protein molecules, there is an easy availability of these products and hence they can be cheaper. Unlike Hard disk drives, they can retain the information even if the power goes off during a read-write operation, as they constantly store the data. Above all, they can withstand high temperatures, without causing damage to the storage media. Also, they do not have moving parts and hence there is no threat of wear and tear. All these advantages provide them an extra edge over the primary storage devices that are currently being used.

3. MRAM Chips

Electronic RAMs could soon become out-of-date and may well be replaced by mechanical chips. The resulting technology is the Magnetic Random Access Memory. In the future, computers, PDAs, etc. could be built with MRAM instead of our traditional Static or Dynamic RAM chips.

Since it is not an electronic component, MRAM consumes less battery power and hence can last longer without the fear of running out of charge. These Chips use non-volatile memory and hence do not lose data when switched off unlike the present day RAM. Also, they can store large volumes of data. Another major advantage is the speed. They can load instantly and once you power on the computer, you might not have to wait for the OS and other applications to load. Your computer would turn on instantly just like your Television. Incredible, isn’t it?

The Last Word

Before long, we might have to bid goodbye to our traditional hard drives with a heavy heart. Our current day computers might soon become out of date giving way to faster and more efficient PCs. But, even as we wait for the new technology, let us not forget to appreciate and be thankful to our semiconductor storage devices that have all along, made our life simpler.

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James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk