Bulk storage technology: Magnetic recording

Recent developments in magnetic recording have made very significant improvements in digital storage density possible. A memory system with a capacity of 2 × 10
¹²
bit using a high storage density quad head recording technique has been announced. Storage density is limited by practical considerations of data reliability and mechanical tape/strip handling, as well as information-theoretical limits. Evolutionary improvements in data storage density, data rate, and system throughput may be expected during the next ten years.