Comment Theoretically possible, but is it worthwhile? (Score 1) 117
The idea of having three separate dyes is not such a bad idea conceptually. This would mean that each "space" would have three bits instead of one.
1 bit = 2 states
3 bits = 8 states
3 bits = 1 bit X 3
This yields 3x the data. Clear enough?
I would imagine (keep in mind data storage is not my field) that it would be easier to arrange this with two dyes so you could read a single byte out of four "spaces" instead of reading 9/8 of a byte out of three "spaces." But I don't know.
In any case, this seems like an unecessary step to take, when DVD-ROM, GD-ROM, etc. has already demonstrated that you can have high bit density and good reliability with the traditional one bit per space approach.
If they would get rid of the politically motivated "tariffs" on blank DVD media, it would probably replace CD-RW.
