Nanotech To Replace Disk Drives Within Ten Years?

Ian Lamont writes "An Arizona State University researcher named Michael Kozicki claims that nanotechnology will replace disk drives in ten years. The article mentions three approaches: Nanowires (which replace electrons/capacitors), multiple memory layers on silicon (instead of a single layer), and a method that stores multiple pieces of information in the same space: 'Traditionally, each cell holds one bit of information. However, instead of storing simply a 0 or a 1, that cell could hold a 00 or a 01. Kozicki said the ability to double capacity that way — without increasing the number of cells — has already been proven. Now researchers are working to see how many pieces of data can be held by a single cell.'"

That cell could hold a 00 or a 01

[Anonymous Coward]

That is the highest precision ever achieved in a binary digit.

Here's a better replacement

[Anonymous Coward]

... .. . .. . . ... .

You see periods are a lot smaller than zeros and spaces - which could be used as 1s - don't take any space at all.

4 times the storage

[Bryansix]

However, instead of storing simply a 0 or a 1, that cell could hold a 00 or a 01. Kozicki said the ability to double capacity that way -- without increasing the number of cells -- has already been proven.

Actually that would quadruple the storage if my calculations are correct. But then again I'm bad at math.

Twice the space?

[Mean Mr. Mycroft]

Sounds like a two-bit technology to me.

Yes, you are.

[raygundan]

A cell that can hold two bits holds four times as many possible values as a cell that can hold one bit.

[0] [1]
[00] [01] [10] [11]

Of course, two one-bit cells hold the same number of values.

[0][0] [0][1] [1][0] [1][1]

Two one-bit cells = one two-bit cell. Twice the capacity. Not that the article is terribly clear-- if their "miracle device" can really only hold 00 and 01, they've just invented a crappy new notation for binary.

Re:Replace what?

[physicsboy500]

w00t! No more electrons!

It's a good thing too... they were always so negative.

Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

instead of storing simply a 0 or a 1, that cell could hold a 00 or a 01.

I'm sure it will be even better once they figure out how to make it store 10 and 11.

Re:Here's a better replacement

[arth1]

... .. . .. . . ... .

Am I the only one who wondered what "sieieese" was?

Regards,
--
*Art

Re:hmm....

[Anonymous Coward]

ahh... this is my first post......

You must be new here.

Re:That cell could hold a 00 or a 01

[vux984]

Ahhh, what an awful dream. Ones and zeroes everywhere... and I thought I saw a two.

11

[The Clockwork Troll]

Gives new meaning to, "but this one goes to 11"

Re:That's just stupid

[insertwackynamehere]

"Our" not "Are" sorry, nitpicking :P