Flexible optical data storage

The author argues that there are large areas of untapped market demand which cannot be convincingly met by magnetic storage. They require a system that provides vast storage densities, fast access speed, and costs close to those of paper or micrographic images. For such applications, flexible optical storage media (optical tapes) provide a very natural fit. In addition, these application areas often prefer a nonerasable medium, for which optical media are particularly suitable. Three types of optical tape drive are being worked on currently, each offering a different price/performance option: laser arrays, transverse oscillation, and helical scan. With regard to the optical tape itself, the manufacturer must concentrate on detail to ensure as perfect a surface as possible. Even so, the media maker may have to provide a smoothing layer to remove the last of the defects. The back surface of the film must be rendered microrough to allow good film handling. Efforts are also underway to develop flexible optical disks that combine low cost with very high performance, the high performance coming through Bernoulli stabilization of the flexible disk.< >