The Laser and The Future of Data Storage -A Brief History Lesson
Today’s world is known for its fast-paced environment and its increasing use of information. New technologies emerge every year, requiring more data storage than before. To put things into perspective, the first-ever hard disk drive (HDD), The IBM 350 Disk File, could only hold up to 5MB (Megabytes) of data, as opposed to the present, where most commercial hard drives can hold an average of 1TB (Terabytes). Although there are different kinds of data storage such as HDDs, solid-state storage, and tapes, one type stands out due to its exciting history and physics: optical data storage. Optical data storage utilizes lasers to read and input memory from devices such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays, known as optical discs. The demand for storage data is constantly growing, forcing industries to find faster and more efficient ways to fulfill this task. While some optic technologies have been slowly replaced (because, to be fair, who even uses CDs anymore?), the scope is quickly changing with new advancements. The laser holds the future of data storage due to its historical contribution in creating optical discs and its unprecedented applications, such as the 5D glass disc.
Before dwelling on the concept of optical data storage, it is necessary to explain one of the most important inventions of the 20th century: The Laser. Lasers were famously…
