It is a sensation and a new world record, which the researchers of IBM have now achieved. They managed to pack 330 terabytes of uncompressed data into a tiny cartridge. This corresponds approximately to the size of 330 million eBooks.
You can now hold this data in your hands. IBM has thus broken the previous record of 201 GigaByte per square meter. The prototype of the magnetic tape has a 20 times higher density than magnetic tapes currently available. The density of a room determines how much information can be stored in a defined area.
These tape drives were invented 60 years ago and used to store documents and personal data. IBM’s first tape heater was then half an inch wide and could store only two megabytes.
Sony invented magnetic tapes as storage media
But the idea does not come from IBM itself. Sony invented the magnetic tapes, in order to store information on it. The new breakthrough from IBM could be an indication that the medium is not yet dead, at least when it comes to IBM.
It is said that the development is towards cloud storage, but he sees that video archives, backups and replica adverts are still stored on magnetic tapes in the event of a disaster.
The atomized tape is a little more expensive in the acquisition, but it is designed for extremely large amounts of data. The cost per terabyte is extremely attractive.
New technologies developed for the record
For the record to be made in this form, IBM has had to develop some new technologies. Including technologies developed together with Sony to increase the density of the recording area on the magnetic tape.
The lubricant on the magnetic tape, for example, belongs to this. This stabilizes the functionality of the magnetic tape. Also the further developed “roll to roll technology” half IBM in the production of the atomized magnetic tape.
