[Unknown Soldier]

Earlier this year Iomega was awarded a patent in the nano-technology and optical data storage area.

The US Patent No. 6,879,556 titled Method and Apparatus for Optical Data Storage is the first in a series of nano-technology-based subwavelength optical data storage patents sought by Iomega. The patent covers a novel technique of encoding data on the surface of a DVD by using reflective nano-structures to encode data in a highly multi-level format. This technology, termed AO-DVD (Articulated Optical - Digital Versatile Disc), allows more data to be stored on a DVD and could allow future optical discs to potentially hold 40-100 times more information with data transfer rates 5-30 times faster than today's DVDs, and at similarly low costs. This invention was recently recognized as a winner of the Nanotech Briefs' Nano 50 awards in its product category. The Nano 50 awards are given to the "best of the best" in the industry - the innovative people and designs that will move nano-technology to key mainstream markets.

Read More: TechWorld

[Graham]

what is a 'standard' dvd? 8gb? if so, does that mean this new technology could come close to a terrabyte dvd?

while undoubtably this sort of data volume will be ideal in 5+ years, is there really such a market for it now? Then again how mature is this technology?

[Unknown Soldier]

Standard DVD is 4.7 with Double sided being 8gigs.

[zgemboandislic]

Originally Posted by Graham

what is a 'standard' dvd? 8gb? if so, does that mean this new technology could come close to a terrabyte dvd?

while undoubtably this sort of data volume will be ideal in 5+ years, is there really such a market for it now? Then again how mature is this technology?

Noone ever mentioned "now". It will almost certainly take 5+ years to mature. Hell, I remember when talk started about HD-DVD and BluRay 2 years ago, and it's still nowhere in sight...