This claims to be a new method of storing data at high density on paper. I'll go on record as saying that (I think that) the claims are rubbish, but it will be interesting to see if we are all storing our data on paper in a few years time. http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=88962&d=18&m=11&y=2006 To demonstrate why I am cynical, I define a unit of data storage called the "coldot" short for "colo[u]red dot". A coldot is based on storing data in dots on paper at 300 dpi at 256 colours per dot. There are 35712(.0714) coldots per mm^2 - say 35,000. A coldot is the product of dots per mm^2 x readable states per dot. A coldot is a data state - NOT an area. There are 139.5 dots/mm^2 at 300 dpi. Based on magnifying glass examination over the years of laser printer output at 300 dpi on up I'd say that *readable* resolutions greater than that on paper are liable to be "difficult" to achieve with anything like normal processes. You can indeed lay down dots at eg 2400 or even 4800 or 9600 dpi but the whole point in doing this is usually so you can NOT distinguish individual dots afterwards. The 256 colour levels are also liable, I feel, to be an upper level for reasonable reading using normal deposition technologies. You can lay down 65 million colours, but distinguishing them afterwards reliably from a 0.007 mm^2 dot may be 'challenging'. SO He claims 90 to 450 GB per paper "RVD". Details scarce, but assume lower limit and same size as existing DVD surface. 120mm dia =~~ 10,000 mm^2 with 10% allowance for non data areas. At 90 GB that's about 250 bytes per coldot. ie you need a bit coding density 250 x 8 = 2000 times higher than I assumed above. Decrease dot size by 10 giving 100 times gain and colours by 20 to 5120 and you get there. My heartiest congratulations to anyone achieving this miracle. He achieves coding density by using colours and shapes BUT he still has to achieve equivalent densities to the above. Ultimately a shape is just a pattern of dots on the paper and he is back into coldot territory. Stay tuned ... Russell Ref: Matthew McMahon Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 2:53 PM Subject: New data storage called RVD can store 256GB on A4 page http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=88962&d=18&m=11&y=2006 -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist