Friday, November 14, 2003
InformationWeek > Hardware > New Plastic Memory Technology Unveiled > November 13, 2003
InformationWeek > Hardware > New Plastic Memory Technology Unveiled > November 13, 2003: "New Plastic Memory Technology Unveiled Nov. 13, 2003
Researchers at Princeton and HP Labs have developed the new technology, which can be written to only once but read numerous times and retains data even when there's no power.
By Matthew Fordahl, AP Technology Writer
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- A new memory technology promises to store more data at less cost than the expensive-to-build silicon chips used by popular consumer gadgets including digital cameras, cell phones and portable music players.
The magical ingredient isn't smaller transistors or an exotic material cooked up by the semiconductor industry.
It's a plastic.
Researchers at Princeton University and Hewlett-Packard Co.'s HP Labs developed the memory, technically a hybrid that contains a plastic film, a flexible foil substrate, and some silicon. The findings appear in the journal Nature on Thursday.
Unlike flash memory found in consumer devices, the new technology can be written to only once, though it can be read many times. It acts in that respect like a non-rewriteable compact disc. But the new memory, which retains data even when there's no power, won't require a power-hungry laser or motor to read or write, and promises more capacity. "
They claim an eventual cost lower than that of Flash memory. Let me see... Plastic, with a foil substrate and can be written to only once? Last time I looked in my Geek's Dictionary, that was the definition of a CD-ROM. It makes one think... hmm... CD-ROM with NO MOVING PARTS? No moving parts is the engineers' Nirvana. Nothing to wear out or break. I wonder what format they'll use- round or rectangular (as in 'credit card' format)?
Researchers at Princeton and HP Labs have developed the new technology, which can be written to only once but read numerous times and retains data even when there's no power.
By Matthew Fordahl, AP Technology Writer
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- A new memory technology promises to store more data at less cost than the expensive-to-build silicon chips used by popular consumer gadgets including digital cameras, cell phones and portable music players.
The magical ingredient isn't smaller transistors or an exotic material cooked up by the semiconductor industry.
It's a plastic.
Researchers at Princeton University and Hewlett-Packard Co.'s HP Labs developed the memory, technically a hybrid that contains a plastic film, a flexible foil substrate, and some silicon. The findings appear in the journal Nature on Thursday.
Unlike flash memory found in consumer devices, the new technology can be written to only once, though it can be read many times. It acts in that respect like a non-rewriteable compact disc. But the new memory, which retains data even when there's no power, won't require a power-hungry laser or motor to read or write, and promises more capacity. "
They claim an eventual cost lower than that of Flash memory. Let me see... Plastic, with a foil substrate and can be written to only once? Last time I looked in my Geek's Dictionary, that was the definition of a CD-ROM. It makes one think... hmm... CD-ROM with NO MOVING PARTS? No moving parts is the engineers' Nirvana. Nothing to wear out or break. I wonder what format they'll use- round or rectangular (as in 'credit card' format)?
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