Photographic Techniques for Information Storage

Photographic media are examined as vehicles for the storage of digital information. Storage devices of total capacity in the range from 107 to 109 bits, with favorable random-access features, appear to be achievable. Alternative methods of reading are suggested. The logical association of a much smaller erasable storage unit (such as a magnetic drum) with a large photographic store completely removes, for most practical applications, the difficulties arising from the fact that rapid erasure and rewriting are not possible in a photographic storage medium. Methods for writing in the information to be stored are briefly considered.