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Secure Data Storage... On Your Fingernails

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the information-at-the-tips-of-your-fingers dept.

opticsorg writes "Secure optical data storage could soon literally be at your fingertips thanks to work being carried out in Japan. Yoshio Hayasaki and his colleagues have discovered that data can be written into a human fingernail by irradiating it with femtosecond laser pulses. Capacities are said to be up to 5 mega bits and the stored data lasts for 6 months - the length of time it takes a fingernail to be completely replaced."

7 of 331 comments (clear)

  1. One way to be sure it's secure by haaz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...don't chew your fingernails.

    --
    -- haaz.
  2. "completely replaced" by tyler083 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Capacities are said to be up to 5 mega bits and the stored data lasts for 6 months - the length of time it takes a fingernail to be completely replaced.

    i admit i didn't read the article, but what about when the nail is partially being replaced?

  3. Re:6 months? by wcb4 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There should be continuous data loss as the nail grows. I would assume that the 5mb that they mention would be the entire nail, but part of that data would be lost as soon as you cut or bit your nails, or if they broke off.... Not really sure what you would use this for other than biometric identification, but you would have to be sure that the person did not allow the nail to grow out completely and then cut it off and use the nail as an overlay later.

    --
    I reject your reality ... and substitute my own.
  4. Re:6 months? by AllahsAvatar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How much do you think this guy could hold?

    --
    No sig for you! Come back, one year!
  5. Old news by elemental23 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Here's someone who's already doing this. Granted, she can't store very much data currently, but it's a start...

    --
    I like my women like my coffee... pale and bitter.
  6. Re:6 months? by Keck · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Ay, but a 2d-bar code like this could easily be printed in the center of the nail, as to be less susceptible to damage. Keep a copy on the other hand, for backup! This could easily be used as an access key for doors, computers, etc; a person's password could be the barcode itself, or some combination (right index, followed by left pinky, or some crap like that) of them. You don't WANT those keys to stay around forever anyway, so nail growth would enforce password changes!

    --
    A computer without Microsoft is like ice cream without ketchup.
  7. LOL, good one on the "thumbdrive" comment... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Haha, very funny comment on the "thumbdrive", only a "dilbert type" might get it, but funny nonetheless!

    (And, it dovetails into this from 1-2 days ago about "King Billy saying 'NO' to implants... & the point I was trying to make - nanotech's the way, in addition to possibly having augments of various kinds built into clothing you wear...)

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=154725&thresho ld=-1&commentsort=0&tid=109&mode=thread&pid=129737 23

    * This is a whole NEW twist on it though... lol, we'll start seeing GUYS with nailpolish on (normal guys, geek types), with printed circuitry!

    "Pretty FLASHY"... :)

    APK