Japanese researchers develop 42GB red laser disc

Japanese researchers develop 42GB red laser disc
A research paper from a team at Tohoku University in Japan has apparently found a way to increase the data density on a DVD by changing the shape of the pits. Supposedly a V shaped pit can hold more than 500 times as much data as the standard square sided pit found on a regular DVD.

While it's certainly an interesting idea, it seems like the buzz that's being generated on some tech websites is more than a little premature. To begin with it's not really a DVD and apparently can't be played on any existing hardware. That makes sense if you consider that the angle of reflection would be different.



Presumably the description of it as a DVD refers to the laser's wavelength, which could certainly make players less expensive to manufacture than Blu-ray. But that doesn't necessarily mean disc production costs, perhaps Blu-ray's biggest weakness, would be any better.

Let's say, for the sake of argument, this new technology would be cheaper to implement than Blu-ray. The studios and consumer electronics manufacturers have already decided on Blu-ray. Regardless of the technical merits of a new format it would still need hardware and content. We already have VMD as a cheaper alternative to Blu-ray and so far it looks like a nonstarter.

Since it also seems they can't use the technique with Blu-ray discs it's not entirely clear what the application of this technology would be. Of course if Blu-ray fails that could change things drastically, but for now it doesn't seem like earth shattering news.

If you're interested in finding out more, and happen to read Japanese, you can find the full text on the university's website.

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 27 Jun 2008 15:52
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  • 21 comments
  • Pop_Smith

    That's an interesting, if unnecessary, idea. A 42GB red laser disk sounds cool.

    However, as noted current DVD players can't play them so unless someone finds a way to manufacture and sell compatible players for cheaper than Blu's current prices (which seem to be falling) its just going to be yet another wonderful concept that doesn't see the light of day.

    27.6.2008 16:23 #1

  • escalante

    This would've been great a few years back before Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

    27.6.2008 17:12 #2

  • B33rdrnkr

    that is bigger than my primary hard drive...

    27.6.2008 18:54 #3

  • SDF_GR

    in that case this disc will need durabis too so the disc prices will be more or less the same with BD.
    Good to see new tech and findings but too late.

    27.6.2008 20:21 #4

  • o0cynix0o

    This could go some where, another choice would be nice. Either way a little competition is good. Although I don't think Toshiba feels the same way. Could this have any gaming aplications???

    28.6.2008 02:24 #5

  • dablur

    Yeah, now if they can just get past um...the 50GB blu-ray has ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED! and come out with a Competing base player for it or even better have it play on blu-ray players..and just call it Blu-ray² ?

    28.6.2008 03:03 #6

  • nobrainer

    What this demonstrates is that 42GB can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of blu-ray, [sarcasm] but hey its like the difference between a Ferrari and a Morris Minor isn't it ppl, it has to cost more to be better![/sarcasm]

    Data storage is just that, the important factors are; cost, durability, speed.

    The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
    The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.

    28.6.2008 04:44 #7

  • wasprider

    I wonder what would happen if they took this same concept and applied it to blue ray discs. Coule it also increase their capacity.

    28.6.2008 15:15 #8

  • nobrainer

    Originally posted by wasprider: I wonder what would happen if they took this same concept and applied it to blue ray discs. Coule it also increase their capacity.they have already i think but as this format you would need a new player.

    The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
    The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.

    28.6.2008 18:29 #9

  • ZippyDSM

    HDVD 51GB disc anyone?

    28.6.2008 20:12 #10

  • Pride1

    Originally posted by wasprider: I wonder what would happen if they took this same concept and applied it to blue ray discs. Coule it also increase their capacity.
    They did and its not possible on a Blu_Ray disc, i beleive the word they used was "Impossible"

    28.6.2008 22:44 #11

  • mostopher

    Originally posted by wasprider: I wonder what would happen if they took this same concept and applied it to blue ray discs. Coule it also increase their capacity.Am I mixed up or was this not answered in the original post?

    Quote:Since it also seems they can't use the technique with Blu-ray discs it's not entirely clear what the application of this technology would be

    28.6.2008 22:48 #12

  • nobrainer

    Hitachi introduces quad-layer 100 GB Blu-ray Disc

    so it was layering that was used to achieve greater storage on blu-ray discs.

    It's just a storage medium nothing more, Hi-Def can be stored just as easily on tape~!

    cost, durability, speed.

    The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
    The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.

    29.6.2008 05:42 #13

  • juankerr

    Originally posted by nobrainer: Hi-Def can be stored just as easily on tape~!
    HD movies are available on tape!

    D-Theater movies for sale at $30 to $40:

    http://www.dvhsmovie.com/movies/trailerpark.asp

    The players are expensive and hard to find though.




    OT, I think Gizmodo put it best:

    Japanese Researchers Make 42GB DVD That's Compatible With Nothing

    29.6.2008 10:57 #14

  • ZippyDSM

    Originally posted by nobrainer: Hitachi introduces quad-layer 100 GB Blu-ray Disc

    so it was layering that was used to achieve greater storage on blu-ray discs.

    It's just a storage medium nothing more, Hi-Def can be stored just as easily on tape~!

    cost, durability, speed.
    Tape sucks.....it gets bent,scratched, broken, has slow seeking all in all to many moving parts.

    A disc player is better, discs do have trouble with scratching BR lowers where DVD easily failed, BR is here for the next 10 years.

    29.6.2008 12:29 #15

  • nobrainer

    @ ZippyDSM

    dude tape is the choice for mostly every business that requires servers as its cheaper, faster and has a very high capacity compared to any optical media currently in use by the civil industries.

    The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
    The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.

    29.6.2008 14:18 #16

  • Pop_Smith

    In theory the limit for Blu is 200GB (8-layer). TDK, Maxell and Hitachi all have talked about coming out with these in about 2009.

    Originally posted by nobrainer: So it was layering that was used to achieve greater storage on blu-ray discs.

    It's just a storage medium nothing more, Hi-Def can be stored just as easily on tape~!

    cost, durability, speed.
    True, HD content can even be stored on VHS tapes. A little known VHS tape type called D-VHS was released just before the HD DVD/Blu-Ray war begun that had 720p or 1080i video and a Dolby Digital track (I can't find if its 5.1 or not, I assume it is). The last movie released to the format was the pretty-recent title of I, Robot.

    Originally posted by nobrainer: @ ZippyDSM

    dude tape is the choice for mostly every business that requires servers as its cheaper, faster and has a very high capacity compared to any optical media currently in use by the civil industries.
    Yes, but tapes are used for things such as consumer database backups etc. that don't get constantly looked at or seeked though like a video tape would. While disks are semi-easily scratched (hence the invention of Durabis) they do not fall apart or get "eaten" as easily as a tape of any type would.

    Peace

    30.6.2008 00:22 #17

  • kyo28

    Originally posted by nobrainer: What this demonstrates is that 42GB can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of blu-ray, [sarcasm] but hey its like the difference between a Ferrari and a Morris Minor isn't it ppl, it has to cost more to be better![/sarcasm]

    Data storage is just that, the important factors are; cost, durability, speed.
    I completely agree with this ... except that this new technology comes too late. I don't think it's realistic to ask consumers to switch to a new format yet again, especially considering they would have to buy new hardware to be able to play these discs. It would have been nice had this been invented earlier so it could come out at the same time as BR and HDDVD.

    30.6.2008 02:59 #18

  • ivymike

    Hmmm. This DVD technology is akin to another still-born DVD technology: the one which by changing the angle of the laser beam yields 10x more data capacity.

    2.7.2008 06:55 #19

  • nobrainer

    Originally posted by ivymike: Hmmm. This DVD technology is akin to another still-born DVD technology: the one which by changing the angle of the laser beam yields 10x more data capacity.Completely and optical is on its way out. Hi Def streaming will be ppl's choice if the quality is not stuck at 720 and ISP's don't blame p2p for throttling the net to uselessness to protect their huge profit margins.

    or Holographic data storage, optical evolved!

    Quote:Holographic data storage is a potential replacement technology in the area of high-capacity data storage currently dominated by magnetic and conventional optical data storage. Magnetic and optical data storage devices rely on individual bits being stored as distinct magnetic or optical changes on the surface of the recording medium. Holographic data storage overcomes this limitation by recording information throughout the volume of the medium and is capable of recording multiple images in the same area utilizing light at different angles.

    Additionally, where as magnetic and optical data storage records information a bit at a time in a linear fashion, holographic storage is capable of recording and reading millions of bits in parallel, enabling data transfer rates greater than those attained by optical storage.

    The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
    The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
    The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.

    2.7.2008 07:20 #20

  • varnull

    How about lumps and bumps in a spiral track on a slab of crushed up beetle shells?.. we could get the data off with a rose thorn.

    Renewables FTW



    Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. Get off my beach before I burn down your village!

    2.7.2008 07:27 #21

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