storing data three-dimensionally with holographic storage

Holotech science offers the potential to save data permeating the thickness of a medium, not merely on its surface. A hologram containing a whole megabit page of data is burned into a photosensitive storage medium when a reference laser beam and a signal laser ray (containing encoded data) cross within the storage media. To retrieve a holographic page of information that has been stored in optically sensitive media, a reference laser beam is focused on the storage media at the identical angle used to create the page in the first place. The beam is diffracted by the media and the image of the original page reappears. This recreated page is then projected into a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera that converts the holographic data image back into electronic digital information. This data may then be analyzed via computer. With the continuing development of holographic information storage, it might be possible to save games, movies, and interactive maps on holocards that are as small as postage stamps. If you are interested, then also see Holography paper .

In the case of holographic information storage, entire pages of information can be saved as interference configurations. Many of these holotechnology patterns can be superimposed in the same optically sensitive media by changing the angle or wave phase of the laser used to burn them in the storage media. In order to retrieve a slice of data that has been stored as a hologram in a holodisk, one must shine a laser into the disk with the same angle and wave phase as the source reference ray used to make the page. To restore various pages of data, the laser is shone on the disk at varying angles. However, unlike CDs and DVDs, this does not mean that the laser must move. The angle of the laser beam in the holographic drive (Holodrive) may be bounced off of a reflective panel than may be easily moved. This reduces the extent of mechanical movement and momentum in holodrives vs. traditional disk drives. Furthermore, in contrast to CDs and DVDs, holodisks do not have to spin in order for the drive to read them. For more regarding holotechnology, see Virtual Cards as well.

Link to Holographic Projectors delves into related technologies.