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'Millipede' Prototype Shown at CeBIT

Posted by timothy on from the idea-with-legs dept.

neutron_p writes "It was a subject of much controversy for last 5 - 7 years, but it's finally got protyped. At CeBIT, IBM for the first time shows the prototype of "Millipede" - nanomechanical data storage device. Using revolutionary nanotechnology, scientists at the IBM Zurich R&D Lab, Switzerland, have made it to the millionths of a millimeter range, achieving data storage densities of more than one terabit per square inch, equivalent to storing the content of 25 DVDs on an area the size of a postage stamp. The principle of operation is comparable with the old punch cards, but now with structural dimensions in the nanometer scale and the ability to erase data and rewrite the medium."

5 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Similar to punch cards? by tinrobot · · Score: 5, Funny

    Like when you drop a three foot tall stack of them in the computer lab and have to spend several hours putting them back in order?

    (true story)

  2. I think i got it by deft · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The principle of operation is comparable with the old punch cards"

    So now we feed these stamp sized cards intot he big machine, and it says "working!, working!, working!" till it spits out another stamp with the answer.

    Awesome.

    --

    There's nothing Intelligent about Intelligent Design.
  3. So frustrating...! by The-Bus · · Score: 5, Funny
    "25 DVDs on an area the size of a postage stamp"


    What the hell does that mean? I know a postage stamp, but I would rather know REAL standards. What is the LoC/FF for that item? We need to use real scientific standards people. In data storage we talk about bits and bytes, when you talk data density, you can only use LoC/FF. Anything else is ludicrous! It's like talking about car speeds at Furlongs per Week.

    Geez. I wish journalistic integrity was a bit higher. It just irks me to-

    What? What's LoC/FF?

    Libraries of Congress per Football Field of course. You know, the standard.

    --

    Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.

  4. Re:but how many... by Laivincolmo · · Score: 5, Funny
    1 terabit = 0.125 terabytes

    1 Library of Congress = 10 terabyes = 80 terabits

    1 terabit per chip

    => 1/80 Library of Congress per Chip

    16.5mm x 17.5mm x 1.2mm = 346.5mm^2

    Volume of VW Beetle: 7,710,952.32 mm^2

    => 22,253.83 chips per VW Beetle

    => 278.27 Libraries of Congress per VW Beetle

    Help a College Student

  5. You're Missing the Point by Peaked · · Score: 5, Funny

    What this obviously means is that I'm one step closer to a cyberpunk style computer in my skull. Who needs to learn when you have google access directly interfaced with your brain?

    God, I hope I'm kidding...