Singapore researchers developing "switchable" holographic storage

Sony many be garnering the lion's share of attention these days with its advances in holographic storage, but it's not the only one working in the promising new medium, as evidenced by this latest development from a pair of researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. As New Scientist reports, they're apparently well on their way to creating a rewriteable holographic memory device that can not only be used to store data, but actually be used to manipulate cells and other tiny particles. Unlike some holographic systems, their system uses only a single laser, which relies on software to calculate the necessary pattern to be recorded on an 8-micron-thick layer of liquid crystal and polymer. The data can then be temporarily erased by simply applying a voltage to it, which the researchers say could make the technology adaptable for use in various electronic devices. Of course, there's no indication of when that might happen, although it'll likely have plenty of competition whenever it does.

[Matt @ Jun 2nd 2007 5:15AM]

Nanyang!

[Crayola @ Jun 2nd 2007 5:17AM]

Bummer... When you think you had made a conceived a breakthrough technology, people starts telling you the letters on your hologram are backwards...

[jimgirardi @ Jun 2nd 2007 11:40AM]

I am wondering what "temporarily erased" means. So you apply voltage, it gets "erased" and then a few hours later is comes back? Your data would be like digital zombies! :)