The Effect of Long-Term Use of Holographic Technology

Future computing could use holographic storage.

Data storage is becoming more of an issue everyday as technology advances, necessitating the need for smaller devices housing larger amounts of memory. Holographic technology offers an option for increasing data memory.

Function

Holographic technology harnesses laser light as a means to document an item. Instead of using electronic chips for storage, an optically sensitive crystal is utilized as a storage medium when a laser beam is shined on it, resulting in data recording.

Significance

Once scientists perfect this storage crystal medium, long-term effects on data storage are staggering. According to Georgia Tech's Alumni Association, holographic data the size of a coin, such as a dime, could hold one thousand books of critical data.

Considerations

In addition to more data storage, long-term use of holographic technology can produce faster computers. Optical light computing allows for concurrent data processing, as opposed to electronic computing that requires a fixed pattern processing items one at a time.

References

• Georgia Tech Alumni Association: Holography