Researchers from Toshiba and Tohoku University in Japan have just announced (subscription) a new method of creating magnetic read heads that could boost hard drive storage density from the current record for a shipping product of 178.8Gb per square inch (also held by Toshiba) to beyond the 1Tb mark.
The proposed next-generation technology would utilize Nanocontact Magnetic Resistance (NC-MR) to boost the magnetoresistance of the drive head. Drive prototypes have demonstrated a magnetoresistance ratio that's twice as large as current read heads (140 percent at room temperature), as well as decreased resistances that should allow for further miniaturization of drive read heads.
Toshiba isn't the only company pushing hard drive areal density forward, as both Hitachi and Seagate have announced their own nascent storage technologies aimed at pushing storage densities above the 1Tb per square inch mark. At least one of these, (Seagate's heat-assisted magnetic recording) will probably be used simultaneously with the NC-MR method discussed above.
Even though 1TB drives are now available and 400GB drives have fallen below the $100 mark, the hard drive industry can scarcely afford to stand still. Not only does the hard drive industry face new competition from solid-state flash-based drives, but the growing popularity of HDTV, IPTV, and DVRs will continue to feed consumers' appetites for locally-stored, high-definition content that's accessible on demand throughout an entire home. Thus far, consumer thirst for huge storage capacities remains strong, which makes Toshiba's announcement all the more timely—though the company doesn't expect to debut new drives based on the NC-MR design for another five years.
The proposed next-generation technology would utilize Nanocontact Magnetic Resistance (NC-MR) to boost the magnetoresistance of the drive head. Drive prototypes have demonstrated a magnetoresistance ratio that's twice as large as current read heads (140 percent at room temperature), as well as decreased resistances that should allow for further miniaturization of drive read heads.
Toshiba isn't the only company pushing hard drive areal density forward, as both Hitachi and Seagate have announced their own nascent storage technologies aimed at pushing storage densities above the 1Tb per square inch mark. At least one of these, (Seagate's heat-assisted magnetic recording) will probably be used simultaneously with the NC-MR method discussed above.
Even though 1TB drives are now available and 400GB drives have fallen below the $100 mark, the hard drive industry can scarcely afford to stand still. Not only does the hard drive industry face new competition from solid-state flash-based drives, but the growing popularity of HDTV, IPTV, and DVRs will continue to feed consumers' appetites for locally-stored, high-definition content that's accessible on demand throughout an entire home. Thus far, consumer thirst for huge storage capacities remains strong, which makes Toshiba's announcement all the more timely—though the company doesn't expect to debut new drives based on the NC-MR design for another five years.
