Week 4 [23.03-29.03.2020] Microsoft Project Silica – a storage medium that will stand the test of time.
Before you start reading this blog, read the title again and remember what came to your mind.
Have you already thought and know the answer? If so, let's move on...
Data storage? They will not come up with anything new. Oh no wait ...
Yes, wait… we already have many options - SSDs, magnetic hard drives, or maybe tape drives? For us, this is usually a way to store data, but... How can we extend the archiving of important data?
Microsoft Research scientists came up with another, innovative idea - to save data, they used glass. That’s something new and interesting, right?
What the hell is this?
Project Silica is actually a 75 x 75 mm quartz glass plate, 2 mm thick that can hold 76.5 GB of data. The manufacturer used here the latest discoveries in ultra-fast laser optics - the data is encoded in glass using femtosecond lasers, creating layers of three-dimensional lattices at the nanoscale (voxels), and machine learning algorithms read them by decoding images and patterns.
To better imagine the situation and learn a bit more, I invite you to watch the video below:
Microsoft's plan to store data for 10,000 years.
Project Silica is a conceptual project that has a good chance of success. An important milestone has recently been achieved here - the Microsoft Azure team managed to write and read the cult film "Superman" on a glass plate.
Microsoft boasts that successful tests attracted even the first potential investors - Warner Bros. The label is looking for media that would save a huge library of resources from the last century, and would last for hundreds of years, without maintaining a certain temperature or constantly refreshing the data copy. Project Silica meets these assumptions, and would be much cheaper than currently used solutions.
What will the future of data storage look like?
Unfortunately, I think it will not be so rosy. It is already said that to benefit from the project, it will be necessary to increase the density of data packing and accelerate the speed of writing and reading data, but I believe that this is a matter of technology development - in the next few years it will not be a problem.
Will Project Silica succeed? A lot here depends on the refinement of the project, implementation costs and the interest of companies.
Questions:
- What is your opinion about the Silica project? Do you think this is a good or bad idea? And does this project have a chance of success?
- If you store data, how do you do it? HDDs, SSD or maybe in a cloud?
- Would you like to code your DNA in a piece of glass embedded in the rock, or shoot into space so that the memory of you and your family is not lost?
Sources:
Comments
1. I think it has great potential. It has a certain advantage that the data can last much time and tough conditions. Speed is not a requirement if it was used only to store backups or huge, archived data.
2. I keep my current data on an SSD and backup it to the cloud which uses HDD. I also use a separate server for storing backups, which is also backed up again.
3. Not really. I am not interested in sharing my DNA. I could do that for research purposes or to leave it for the next generations of my family, but not share it publicly.
I thing it is great! It definitely a promising project I hope it will blossom into something bigger even if it fails in this form.
2. If you store data, how do you do it? HDDs, SSD or maybe in a cloud?
Right now mostly HDDs but I plan to buy a new computer with an SSD. Some data I have stored in cloud but it is most studies connected.
3. Would you like to code your DNA in a piece of glass embedded in the rock, or shoot into space so that the memory of you and your family is not lost?
Wow, that's intresting and quite extravagant idea. I wonder if in the future there will be still a possiblity to read that data after let's say a 500 years or so, but I would love to do so.
Yes, it has great potential, we have to wait a bit to see what will finally happen.
Oh, I see you have a private server. Do you use NAS?
You must invest in SSD. This is one of the profitable private investments and it's really worth it. I will never go back to HDDs. You need to find out what a fast SSD drive is and it's very convenient to use.
2. I store most of the data on HDDs. Unfortunately SSDs are still more expensive than HDD :(
3. I don't like such ideas. I believe that the memory of your family never stops - they are always in our hearts. Instead of writing my genes on quartz glass, I prefer to pass them on to children.
2. I don't keep much data on my computer's disk (SSD), only applications and files I've been recently using. I use cloud to store files like pictures, documents etc. To me, the biggest advantage of keeping data in cloud is the fact that you can access it from any device that has internet connection.
3. I don't feel like sharing my DNA with anyone, if not neccessary. Also I don't know why would anyone find it valuable or worth "keeping".
Storing data in the cloud ... It's also an interesting idea. But you need an internet connection, and as we know the internet is not always available in different places and in such a situation the external disk saves us.
1. Honestly, Silica project sounds good on paper however I don't think it will be realistically possible anytime soon. I think the basic idea is cool but I still have my worries. I feel that it will be one of those projects which get announced but are never finished.
2. I mostly use SSDs and cloud nowadays. Although I prefer cloud - accessing my files wherever I am is the biggest selling point for me. I am also an artist so I really care about my work being easily accessible.
3. I bet my mom would like to code her own DNA in a piece of glass and shoot it into space since she loves sci-fi concepts like that, but it's not my cup of tea. Memories of ancestors should be passed on from generation to generation, by telling stories and remembering roots. Also a copy will always be just a copy - these memories won't be the "real me".
A great idea. It is difficult to use data for a long time and not lose it. 10,000 years is a huge period of time. I don't know if the data we will collect now will be needed by anyone in 10,000 years? We like to watch old movies ourselves :-)
2. If you store data, how do you do it? HDDs, SSD or maybe in a cloud?
I use hard drives and solid state drives. I don't use the cloud, somehow I can't convince myself. Maybe it's a mistake - I think I'll verify my approach soon.
3. Would you like to code your DNA in a piece of glass embedded in the rock, or shoot into space so that the memory of you and your family is not lost?
Strange question, everyone wants something to be left of him. Maybe there is an idea to leave a part of yourself for others. I think so. Cool idea.
Maybe this project will succeed? Remember, never say never ;)
I also think that, for now, storing data in the cloud is the most reasonable and best option as long as we have access to the internet.
2. Almost everything on my local SSD inside a laptop cause it isn't really important information for me. All important things like diploma and library of computer games are in the cloud. Best way to store something and not to lose.
3. I sure it won't bother me after my death either there will be some sort of afterlife or not. Cause if not - nothing will bother me, if yes - once more, nothing will bother me or everyone, you're immortal - be happy. Memory seems only like a solace for someone who doesn't believe in an afterlife but who isn't okay with this fact.
You have to know that storing data in cloud is an amazing idea. You have to try :)
About storing your DNA...
You are not afraid that simply your DNA and memory of you and your family will be in the wrong hands?
2. Recently, I have been using the cloud more often, it’s more convenient, since you can access your data from anywhere in the world.
3. Interesting idea. Maybe I would like for scientific purposes or for my future generation to preserve the memory of genes.
In my opinion, th Silica project is a good idea and has a chance of success but it will be only temporary. We should remember floppy disk, CD or pendrive. All of them need special equipment to read or write data on them and can be easy to be lost.
2. If you store data, how do you do it? HDDs, SSD or maybe in a cloud?
Usually I store data in a cloud like Google Drive. If I need to bring some data somewhere, e.g. printing house, I use pendrive or microSD with adaptor, because it's faster and more comfortable than loging in email.
3. Would you like to code your DNA in a piece of glass embedded in the rock, or shoot into space so that the memory of you and your family is not lost?
Definitely I wouldn't like to code my DNA. I don't want to be remembered or leave any memory of my existence.