Brains behind HDTV revolution want to deliver storage tech that is near indestructible and can shrink a DVD movie to the size of a human thumbnail

Date:
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:34:00 +0000

Description:
SWS uses silver halide emulsion for tamper-proof data preservation

FULL STORY ======================================================================New storage method inspired by antique photographic techniques SWS technology preserves data for centuries without power NASA tests confirm SWS's
resilience in extreme conditions

Veteran engineers Clark Johnson and Richard Jay Solomon are tackling a major challenge in data storage: keeping information safe and intact for centuries without using energy.

An article on IEEE Spectrum reports how Johnson, a key figure in HDTVs development, and Solomon have pioneered new archival technology that merges elements of antique photography with modern data needs.

Their standing-wave storage (SWS) system, developed at Wave Domain, offers a resilient, tamper-proof solution for safeguarding digital information in a tiny format. Writing data in color waves

Inspired by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Gabriel Lippmanns emulsion technique, the technology stores data by capturing color waves in a durable silver halide emulsion. Johnsons path to this innovation began with his HDTV work, which he developed with Solomon and a team at MIT in the late 1980s.

This work led Johnson and his team to become experts in optics and digital imaging - a skillset that now informs their latest creation. Collaborating with emulsion expert Yves Gentet, they adapted Lippmanns method to store multiple colors per pixel, creating a high-density archival medium.

The SWS technology is designed for applications where data needs preservation over long periods without power or copies.

"The data that we read is coming off the plate at such a high bandwidth, Solomon told IEEE Spectrum . There is no computer on the planet that can absorb it without some buffering. Using LEDs and a specially formulated
silver halide plate, the system writes data in color waves that, once processed, are immune to moisture, radiation, and cosmic rays.

NASA tested the storage mediums durability by sending 150 SWS samples to the International Space Station in 2019, where they were exposed to cosmic radiation for nine months.

Upon their return, Solomon reported absolutely zero degradation in the data. This resilience, even in spaces harsh conditions, supports the technologys potential for data centers, scientific research, and space applications requiring minimal energy.

The idea is to use readily available parts, Johnson said, when talking about the practicalities of SWS. With low costs and no power needed to preserve data, Johnson envisions uses beyond space, especially in data-heavy fields.

Now aged 94, Johnson told IEEE Spectrum that he isn't looking to create a startup based around the technology but rather is seeking a successor to lead Wave Domains SWS to mainstream adoption. You might also like This is the best cloud storage for photos right now This ceramic storage system can hold data for 5000+ years New research creates cheaper high-density optical storage



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/brains-behind-hdtv-revolution-want-to-deliver-st orage-tech-that-is-near-indestructible-and-can-shrink-a-dvd-movie-to-the-size- of-a-human-thumbnail


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