News Microsoft demonstrates Project Silica: a glass-based storage media

It's all well and good surviving scratching, boiling, microwaving and so on, but if I, clumsy **** that I am, were to drop it, how well would it hold up?

 

2mm thick glass - that's the same on iphones right?

 

[Insert here an image of Richard Dean Anderson, hands spread in the "'Aliens' guy" pose, surmounted by the text caption (outlined impact font, allcaps, natch) "CRYSTALS"]

 

probably not well, I think the technology is for archiving, current archiving tech (tapes, CDs, etc) are vulnerable to deterioration in just a few decades (50 I think for tape, haven't checked).

 

Sure the media might survive that long... but what about the gubbinz required to read it?

You just know at least one of these is getting used as a coaster.

 

Surely that should be Amanda Tapping...?

 

This is really exciting stuff. Archiving data with the longevity of well-kept paper records (low humidity, no mice or insects!) at scales meaning terabytes are viable.

...just don't drop 'em, I guess.

 

Nah. Scene:
O'Neill (two 'L's!): "So... I just put the crystal in the... crystal holder thing, and that re-opens the gate?"
Carter"Well, actually, sir, [insert technobabble involving space-time curvature, Naquadah, gate dialling mechanics, Asgard technology, etc"
O'Neill: "Soooo... Crystal in the thingie. Got it"

 

That is exactly what I was about to look for