Innovative Ways To Store Lots of Data
No matter what data you are storing, files are becoming larger all the time. As the information you use becomes more sophisticated — high-resolution images, more complex features, longer videos and so on — your files increase in size to accommodate the extra data.
Accommodating Growing Technology
As technology grows and people do more with computers, companies must invent ways to accommodate all the information that they produce. New challenges emerge, such as working with neural network batch size and finding new ways to combat cyber security threats. Most people take advantage of technology improvements when they watch high-definition videos, share information quickly worldwide, and use complex graphics in a presentation. However, creating more data means your storage methods need to grow, too. Luckily, companies that produce storage constantly innovate to keep up with demand. Here are five strategies that may someday help you store lots of data.
-
5D Optical Data Storage Technology
Hitachi and Microsoft have developed 5D storage techniques. Also known as Superman memory crystal, it uses nanostructured glass for digitally recording data using a high-speed laser writing process. The recording is permanent, and the memory crystal can store 300-500 terabytes of data for billions of years.
The five dimensions refer to:
- Size
- Orientation
- The nanostructures’ three-dimensional position
The glass disc is the size of a CD. It is considered an inexpensive storage method and could power driverless cars or virtual reality experiences. The discs are more than 10,000 times denser than Blu-ray. The laser writes the discs at the speed of 1 million voxels per second. If you need help putting that speed into perspective, it’s equivalent to recording more than 100 pages of text each second.
-
Hard-Disc Drives
The hard drive is nothing new, but it is becoming bigger and less expensive. A large-capacity drive allows users to combine and consolidate data from several devices into one place. This ability makes it easier to store and organize content. It also makes backing up easier.
-
Solid-State Drives
A solid-state drive performs the same job as a hard drive, but it stores data on interconnected flash memory chips that retain data. Like a hard drive, a solid-state drive keeps information on it even when the power is turned off.
The flash chips in a solid-state drive are different from what you might first think of. They are not the same as a USB drive, commonly referred to as a flash drive. The flash chips used in a solid-state drive are faster and more reliable. However, they are small, like a USB drive and smaller than a hard drive. A solid-state drive boots up, transfers files and runs faster than a traditional hard drive. Without any moving parts, it can last longer, though it does have a limited lifespan as it can only be written to and erased a certain number of times.
-
Floating Cantilever
Small technology gadgets, such as cell phones, digital cameras and MP3 players, have unique storage needs. It is harder to store energy in small devices. The floating cantilever design is more energy-efficient and faster than current storage methods. It uses a self-propelled floating cantilever that reacts to the device’s electrical currents. It then converts the electrical information into binary code. The design has not reached the consumer market yet, but it shows promise for future storage needs.
-
Underwater Data Centers
You may not store your information at the bottom of the ocean yourself, but there is a chance Microsoft may store your data there someday. The company is experimenting with cloud data storage encapsulated and sunk into the Pacific Ocean off the Washington state coast. During the test, the watertight capsule sat on the ocean floor for two months and was brought back up. The contents remained dry.
As people need more and more data storage, companies are finding innovative ways to keep files secure (and, in some cases, dry) for years to come. You will likely be able to store your information for generations.
