A new solid-state hard drive that uses ultrasound to store more data
February 21, 2013
Acoustic-assisted magnetic recording (credit: Oregon State University)
Electrical engineers at Oregon State University have discovered a new method, called acoustic-assisted magnetic recording, to use high-frequency sound waves to create durable solid state storage that allows for storing more data in a smaller space, using less power.
“We’re near the peak of what we can do with the technology we now use for magnetic storage,” said Pallavi Dhagat, an associate professor in the OSU School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
One approach is to heat the magnetic materials temporarily so they become momentarily less stiff and more data can be stored at a particular spot. This has proven difficult to do, because the heating tends to spread beyond where it is wanted and the technology involves complex integration of optics, electronics and magnetics.
Directed heat
With the new acoustic-assisted magnetic recording.approach, ultrasound is directed at a highly specific location while data is being stored, creating elasticity that allows a tiny portion of the material to bend or stretch. It immediately resumes its shape when the ultrasound waves stop. So the data can be stored reliably without the concerns about heating.
In September 1956, IBM launched the 305 RAMAC, the first computer with a hard disk drive (HDD). The HDD weighed over a ton and stored 5 MB of data. (Credit: IBM)
It should also be possible to create a solid state memory device with no moving parts to implement this technology, the researchers said. Unlike conventional hard-disk drive storage, solid state memory would offer durability.
“This technology should allow us to marry the benefits of solid state electronics with magnetic recording, and create non-volatile memory systems that store more data in less space, using less power,” said Albrecht Jander, also an associate professor of electrical engineering and collaborator on the research.
A disk drive in the 1950s had a five megabyte capacity, cost today’s equivalent of $160,000, weighed about a ton, had to be moved with a forklift,and was so big it had to be shipped on a large cargo aircraft.
Experts at the time said they could have built something with more storage capacity, but they could not envision why anyone would want it, or buy it.
A hard drive today that stores 1TB, or 200,000 times as much information, is available for about $100 — 1600 times cheaper.
Comments (10)
by SmartAndSober
I wonder how does this new technology contribute to the Singularity? Is this new hard drive compatible with the D-Wave quantum computers?
Vernor Vinge, in 1993, predicted that “within 30 years we will have the means to create superhuman intelligence.”
It is already 2 thirds of the way by 2013. Where is the superhuman intelligence?
by SmartAndSober
I have, on the blogs of a few futurists, saw the abusive term “vaporware peddler” being used toward Kurzweil, Vinge, Yudkowsky and other researchers. Probabily a consequence that they must endure that comes with their popularity.
BTW, I am rather unworried about the sudden rise of superintelligences.
If the Singularity happens tomorrow (say an AGI is accidentally created), I will be elated. What comes after that (whether annihilation or assimilation) is of little concern.
by SmartAndSober
And, of course, if I may choose, I will choose assimilation over annihilation.
Individuality and the so-called “human dignity” are not that important to me, if I can live on, participate in the coming galactic civilization, and eventually enter the Omega Point.
by Fred Bosick
What would you call it, if in 1993, someone told you IBM made a computer that beat Jeopardy champions. AI gets redefined every time someone builds a thing that once required human input but now is done by a machine. Whatever “super human intelligence” is, it’s creeping up all around us right now. 10 years is plenty of time for even more amazing things to happen.
by SmartAndSober
I have always wished that my brain can have the perfect memory of computers.
I have also always wished that my computer can have the creativity and other forms of cognitive flexibility of my brain.
When the two slowly combine (thanks to the increasingly friendly and streamlined interfaces), I wish they can be as productive as possible.
Is there a method, one achievable in a home lab, to cyborgize harddrives (especialy new ones like the one featured here) to my brain?
How may I be totally freed from sleeping, and stay lucid and alert for twenty four hours a day?
I really want to know.
by Gorden Russell
You’ve got to talk to our regular commenter, GatorALLin. He practices lucid dreaming. With that, you could stay interfaced with your computer and surf the web in your dreams, SmartAndSober.
by SmartAndSober
“Lucid dreaming” sounds like the exact opposite of somnoambulism.
by Bri
Although they have a better understanding of sleep they still don’t know even why we need to. From what I understand all anklimqls sleep in some form. It’s one of the big problem in terms of being able to compete with with. Strong AI robot for jobs. As for brain augmentation we need to understand how it works first. We are just beginning to understand how it communicates internally. The sensors that are being developed for brain research will morph into the tools for true upgrade integration. I would guess that will probably be at least 10 to 20 years from now.
by SmartAndSober
The ideal way to work, to me, is to: do phyiscal works like a somnambulist and do mental works like a lucid dreamer.
If there are some of my drudgeries that cannot be done by robots, I can at least work without being aware of that I am working on or making conscious effort.
by SmartAndSober
Perhaps the scientists can tell us how to perform “shift-sleeping”:
How to make parts of your brain sleep while the rest of it stays awake and working.
Shift the sleeping parts. Every 24 hours your brain is “refreshed” through choreographed, shifted rest, without wasting any time on whole-brain sleeping.