Appendix B
A Summary of Storage Possibilities
Film
- low-cost archival storage
- should experience a rebirth due to use in digital-imaging systems
- core technology for archival storage on imaging systems for at least the next several years
Magnetic Disk:
- high-speed random access
- will continue to be used for high-speed buffer storage and temporary working storage on fileservers and workstations in digital imaging systems
Magnetic Reel Tapes:
- slow sequential access, low cost
- will become extinct in five to ten years
Optical Disc:
- random access, removable, medium speed
- will be the core data storage technology for providing low-cost random access in imaging systems during the 1990s and beyond
- archival issue will be solved, obsolescence will require recopying
CD-ROM (660 MB, read-only):
- stores approximately 330,000 character-coded text-only pages
- 6,000 to 10,000 300 dpi compressed images
- ideal distribution and database publishing medium
- increase in capacity and throughput due shortly
Optical Card:
- ten MB of laser-written data on credit-card-size card
- important medium for notebook PCs
Helical Scan Tape (new technology, shows promise for back-up and possible distribution of large data files, including image files):
- 4mm digital audio tape (DAT) at 1.2 to 2.4 GB
- 8mm video at 2-5 GB
- both have robotic handling systems available
New Technology Optical Tape:
- experimental technology, first deliveries in ’91
- single 12″ optical tape stores the equivalent of 1,500 CD-ROMs or one terabyte* of data
- cheaper than any other form of storage; may compete with film for storage of greyscale images in future
- 28 second average and 60 seconds maximum end-to-end access time claimed