Syylex claims it has the technology and storage medium allowing the archival of digital data for centuries-- the GlasMasterDisc, a system storing data on glass discs.
The discs consist of 2 halves-- an engraved durable glass substrate (made from glass the chemical industry uses to store aggressive reagents) and a metallic alloy reflective layer. The 2 halves are bonded together, and metal and bond are in turn nearly entirely enclosed in glass.
The company says the glass disc is "extremely resistant to all environment factors"-- including humidity, temperature, radiation, electric and magnetic fields and mechanical and chemical stresses.
GlassMasterDiscs have a capacitity of approx. 5GB, and are readable by commercial DVD and Blu-ray players, without the need for special readers. Syylex plans to launch the discs this year, with the goal to produce 20000 discs yearly.
