Prompt's TechBlog
More space than I'd know what to do with
14 April 2008
Posted by Duncan HeaneyThis new 'racetrack' memory actually sounds quite promising. The Times reports that the breakthrough in storage technology would not only allow an iPod to store half a million MP3s, and 3,500 full length films, but it would be very cheap to produce too. The research team claims that the technology uses less power and a single battery charge would last for weeks. It also has no moving parts, meaning that it should be pretty reliable. The technology can store information very quickly, faster than regular hard drives, and does not have the 'wear out' mechanism that afflicts flash memory drives.
The technology works by storing data in columns of magnetic material arranged on the surface of a silicon wafer. The information moves around the columns at high speed, hence the name 'racetrack' memory.
Stuart Parkin, the IBM fellow who led the research, said that "the promise of racetrack memory - for example, the ability to carry massive amounts of information in your pocket - could unleash creativity leading to devices and applications that nobody has imagined yet," and perhaps he has a point. With such a huge increase in space available, there's a good chance that it could inspire a creative surge.
Personally, I'm getting excited by the thought of being able to store entire series of television on a pocket-sized device, although the cynic in me points out that it's far more space than I would ever need.
It may be a moot point anyway. There's no sign of when the research will yield fully working, commercially available products. It is still in the 'exploratory stage', and the only time frame given is the annoyingly vague 'within ten years'.
Comments:
I remember when CD-Roms came out, I couldn't really imagine what people would use them for. It just seemed like it would be used to store much more of the same than anyone would need. But it created new creative opportunities and new applications, and portable mass storage could do the same. I'm sure they'll think of applications that go way beyond storing lots of music or lots of video, once the technology is stable and has been used long enough for people to get familiar with it.
Bill Gates (1981): "640K of memory should be enough for anybody."
Duncan- you are right on about how exciting it will be to carry around full series on a pocket drive. And equally interesting is Sean's point about more storage creating a new paradigm.
Remember, HD wasn't possible on standard CDs, but with the new medium we have high def video possible. With racetrack memory, who knows what the next steps could be... HD Holograms?
BUT- I have a different argument for why this is a moot point:
Cloud computing, 4G bandwidth, and vast server farms. In other words- the end of localized storage. A lot can happen "within ten years"...
HD holograms would be one step closer to actually living in Star Wars. And that would be brilliant (except for the whole 'war' bit).
Certainly in the UK, I don't think our broadband infrastructure is anywhere near solid enough to offer the kind of cloud computing you suggest. And with the state it is in now, it probably won't be for a while. Plus, many people (me incuded) like to have the physical item to actually own.
So I think we are a long, long, way from the end of localised storage.
Oh Duncan- we need to sit down for a "pint of lager" and discuss this one. The delocalization of storage debate is currently one of my favorites (along with Mobile phone operating systems and which Mario game is the greatest).
First off- I completely agree that we are far, far away from this new paradigm- but if Racetrack memory will take 10 years then streaming server-side storage becomes much more relevant.
Secondly- I'm a massive gadget geek and I think we're always going to want a physical item. But I think we are starting to redefine what that means. The way that we no longer need CDs- we'll no longer need DVDs, or storage cards, or even racetrack cards(?).
But yes, anything to get us a step closer to Starwars is ok by me assuming the technology never builds a Deathstar...
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