CDs 'could be history in five years'

Ananova ^ | November 12, 2003

[Perseverando]

CDs 'could be history in five years'

Compact discs could be history within five years, superseded by a new generation of fingertip-sized memory tabs with no moving parts.

Scientists say each paper-thin device could store more than a gigabyte of information - equivalent to 1,000 high quality images - in one cubic centimetre of space.

Experts have developed the technology by melding together organic and inorganic materials in a unique way.

They say it could be used to produce a single-use memory card that permanently stores data and is faster and easier to operate than a CD.

It's claimed that turning the invention into a commercially viable product might take as little as five years.

The card would not involve any moving parts, such as the laser and motor drive required by compact discs. Its secret is the discovery of a previously unknown property of a commonly-used conductive plastic coating.

US scientists at Princeton University, New Jersey, and computer giants Hewlett-Packard combined the polymer with very thin-film, silicon-based electronics.

The device would be like a standard CD-R (CD-recordable) disc in that writing data onto it makes permanent changes and can only be done once. But it would also resemble a computer memory chip, because it would plug directly into an electronic circuit and have no moving parts.

A report in the journal Nature described how the researchers identified a new property of a polymer called PEDOT.

PEDOT, which is clear and conducts electricity, has been used for years as an anti-static coating on photographic film. Researchers looked at ways of using PEDOT to store digital information. In the new memory card, data in the form of ones and zeroes would be represented by polymer pixels.

When information is recorded, higher voltages at certain points in the circuit grid would "blow" the PEDOT fuses at those points. As a result, data is permanently etched into the device. A blown fuse would from then on be read as a zero, while an unblown one that lets current pass through is read as a one.

Story filed: 18:07 Wednesday 12th November 2003

[Prime Choice]

Looks like I'll have to get another copy of the "White Album"...

[discostu]

Things that small are too easy to lose and steal. Cool technology but not cool merchandise. While every media eventually dies that tech as is won't replace the CD.

[Billthedrill]

Yeah, that's what they said about eight-tracks, too.

Oh, wait a minute...

[Paul C. Jesup]

I doubt it will go anywhere because the MPAA and RIAA is doing everything in their power to cripple technology in this country.

[BrooklynGOP]

Solid state memory is the way to go.

[muleskinner]

ZVUE! - you heard it here first.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Massive amounts of data could be stored in files using PEDOT. If the files contain pornographic images of children, they would be known as PEDOT files.

[discostu]

Even just some sort of wrapping device. Anything small enough that a shoplifter could put hundreds of dollars worth of merch in their pockets unnoticed requires special handling, music purchases (even in today's market) are too common place to be keeping all the chips behind lock and key (and the purchasing method is too often browsing, you can't browse behind the counter).

And people shouldn't be too quick to declare "x thing is dead", even LPs haven't died out completely, actually they're having a resurgence (expect new record players to be in Target next year, they're in Bed Bath and Beyond now, were in the Spiegel's catalog last year, the usual cycle puts things in the big box stores on year 3).

[StriperSniper]

Solid state memory is the way to go.

Do you know how long it took me to give in and buy a CD player waiting for this? ;-)

[discostu]

Gesundheit!

I'm sure you'll illucidate.

[RightWingNut]

And "Dark Side of The Moon" and "The Wall"

Let's see. First the albums (I'm old and remember albums), then the cassettes, eight tracks anyone (all the other old timers will remember those), and now CD's.

I'm getting tired of re-buying all my favorites.

I wonder when the consumer will finally say "Enough " !!

[Sabertooth]

Things that small are too easy to lose and steal. Cool technology but not cool merchandise. While every media eventually dies that tech as is won't replace the CD.

They have yet to come up with a techology that as satisfactorally transmits album art as well the cardboard LP sleeve did.

[Fierce Allegiance]

This will make the old "album art" totally defunct. can't see much on a postage stamp sized album cover

[NonValueAdded]

The price will still be the same. Rip off!

[oceanview]

not at all, the RIAA would love everyone to move away from CD to a DRM solution witha new technology. hell, you might have to pay to listen to the radio soon!

[Jim Cane]

Rats! I just purchased a DVD player ~ Charlie Brown

[Freedom4US]

http://www.garage-a-records.com

For all your turntable needs - belts, cartridges and needles for just about all makes of turntables. The nice lady I talked to on the phone at the Needle Doctor said they do 90 per cent of their business around this time, from folks wanting a new needle to play their Christmas carol record albums.

[dirtboy]

Great, I just finally got around to buying a DVD/CD player.

[nina0113]

I wonder when the consumer will finally say "Enough " !!

Why do you think everyone's swapping mp3s? We've already paid for this music three times. Anything I already own in a different format, I've got no moral issue downloading.