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HD-ROM: 165 Gigabytes on a CD-sized Disc
Norsam Technologies Announces Joint Development Agreement with IBM Research Goal: To Read 165 gigabytes of data from new CD-sized disc
Just when you thought it was safe to upgrade, scientists from the Los Alamos, New Mexico company, Norsam Technologies, Inc., announced on February 2, 1998, that it and IBM Research would be producing yet another improvement to the capacity of the standard CD-ROM disk. In fact the new system called the NORSAM HD-ROMŽ high density data storage system will store several hundred times more data than current CD-ROMs.
For the technical buffs amoung you,Norsam's data writing system (called NORSAM HD-ROM for High-Density Read-only Memory), which is currently under development, uses a highly focused charged particle beam instead of the much larger laser beams used by today's optical data storage devices. Norsam's initial charged particle beam can be focused to a 50-nanometer spot size, which could correspond to as much as 165 gigabytes of data storage on a CD-sized (120mm) disc.
Just to translate the new technology to the layman, and by way of comparison, compact discs (CD master discs) are written with a 800-nanometer wavelength laser beam, which creates a per-disc capacity of 650 megabytes (0.65 gigabytes). New Digital Versatile Disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM master) discs are written with a 350-nanometer wavelength laser beam enabling 4.7 gigabytes to be stored on each disc surface. The new disks will be the same size as both of these disks but by using a 50 nanometer beam or spot size, the HD-ROM will hold 165 gigabytes of data.
How soon could this technology become available? Probably just about the time you get ready to put the DVD-ROM on your computer system, this new technology will be available to the consumer.
In making the joint development announcement, John Bishop, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norsam Technologies , Inc. commented, "By combining the talents of IBM's research group with our engineering team, we hope to marry two advanced technologies into data-writing and reading systems that our customers will find attractive."
Scientists and engineers from both companies will lead the project which will begin immediately and be conducted at facilities in Yorktown Heights, NY and Los Alamos, NM. The Norsam Technologies team will be led by Homi Fatemi, Chief Operating Officer of the company.
About Norsam Technologies
Norsam Technologies, Inc. is a developer of high density data storage and archival systems that utilize patented charged particle beam processes to achieve extremely dense data and image storage solutions.
Its products, NORSAM HD-ROM and HD-ROSETTA employ technology that etches information-in a digital or analog format-onto discs made of metal or other durable materials. HD-ROSETTA discs are fire resistant, non-magnetic and unaffected by environmental conditions.
About IBM Research
IBM Research is staffed by about 2,800 researchers working at laboratories in the United States, Switzerland, Japan, Israel and China. Major areas of research include computer systems, applications and solutions, systems technology, physical sciences, mathematical sciences, storage and communications. Further information about the technological achievements of IBM Research can be found at www.research.ibm.com .
For additional information contact:
Market2000 Steve Sukman, Media Relations Rep. (505) 983-0473 steve@market2k.com
Norsam Technologies, Inc. (505) 672-0920 www.norsam.com storage@norsam.com
From: Norsam Technologies <165gig@market2k.com> NOTE TO EDITORS: An illustration of the NORSAM HD-ROM disc technology and additional information can be found on the Internet at http://www.norsam.com/press.htm or by request to Steve Sukman at Market2000, (505) 983-0473 or steve@market2k.com