GENEVA,
Switzerland (Ecma) Ecma has created Technical Committee 44 (TC44) to
develop a standardization strategy for Holographic Information Storage
(HIS) systems, initially based upon the Collinear Technologies of
Optware Corporation, a leading developer of Holographic
Versatile Disc
(HVD) storage products. TC44 was set up at the request of Optware
Corporation and several of its partners, including CMC Magnetics
Corporation, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Pulstec Industrial Co., Ltd.,
Strategic Media Technology and Toagosei Co., Ltd.
Dramatically
increased storage density - Holographic Information Storage breaks the
density limits of conventional optical storage by recording through the
full depth of the medium instead of recording on the surface only. One
HVD can store upwards of 200 gigabytes of data, the equivalent of more
than 40 of today's DVDs, and that is just for starters. Future
implementations will be able to store more than 1.3 terabytes.
Additionally, unlike optical discs, which record one data bit at a
time, HVDs allow over 10 kilobits of data to be written and read in
parallel with a single flash of light - and the recording and reading
processes do not require spinning media. Data transfer rates of up to
20 megabytes per second (far faster than DVDs) are easily achieved with
rotating or translating media.
Ambitious goals - TC44 will
begin standardizing three different storage media: Holographic
Versatile Disc cartridges (capacity: 200 Gbytes per cartridge),
read-only Holographic Versatile Discs (capacity: 100 Gbytes per disc)
and Holographic Versatile Cards (capacity: 30 Gbytes per card). The
fourth project is standardization of a case for 120 mm read-only HVDs.
Ecma has ambitious goals: In December 2006 the new standards will be
submitted to ISO for fast-track processing.
Dr. Yoshio Aoki,
President and CEO of Optware Corporation, commented: "We are very
honored that Ecma International is undertaking standardization of
Holographic Information Storage systems. We are particularly gratified
that Ecma has chosen to start its standardization work with projects
that make use of our Collinear Technologies for Holographic Versatile
Discs (HVDs) and Holographic Versatile Cards (HVCs). HVDs and HVCs use
a completely different technology from the conventional two-axis method
and fully exploit the optical servo technologies associated with
conventional CDs and DVDs. This unique feature of the Optware Collinear
Technology is very well suited for high-performance recording formats,
file structures and I/O interfaces for both the enterprise storage
market and the AV/IT professional electronic media storage markets such
as film and broadcast content for the disc and card form factors."
"Intel
is delighted that Optware and its HVD/HVC technology have made a
significant step toward making the technology an industry standard. The
standardization through Ecma process should accelerate the
commercialization of the technology, as many of the key players in this
field will actively participate in and collaborate with the committee's
efforts. Intel looks forward to seeing a commercial HVD/HVC product
that will advance the optical disk roadmap one generation ahead," said
Claude Leglise, Vice President of Intel Capital.
"The large
capacity together with the high transfer speed of holographically
recorded media will create a quantum leap in media storage technology.
Ecma International, which has developed 90% of all modern international
standards for optical and magnetic storage media is very pleased to
undertake the standardization of HVDs, HVCs and related subjects. We
are looking forward to a new success story," said Jan van den Beld,
Secretary General of Ecma.
Werner Glinka, Chairman of TC44,
noted: "Holographic Versatile Discs (HVDs) will hit the market soon.
Ecma has an excellent track record for delivering standards in an
efficient manner, and that is precisely what TC44 is prepared to do. I
invite all interested parties to join in the development of HVD
standards ensuring compatibility to speed up the adoption of this
exciting technology."
