The extremely low-cost technology will drastically
reduce the cost of storage and provide for high-speed storage as
well.
Files in any format such as movie files, songs, images and text can be
stored using this technology.
Currently, of the several options available for
data storage, DVDs are the best mode. But a high quality DVD, which
is
very expensive can store only about 4.7 gigabyte (GB) of data. In
contrast, the Rainbow Versatile Disc (RVD) can
store 90 to 450 GB. And Sainul has simultaneously developed a scanning drive based on his
Rainbow software
which will come in smaller sizes to be initially
carried with the laptops and later to fit into their bodies.
Sainul says a CD or DVD consumes 16 grams of
polycarbonate, a petroleum by-product. While a CD costs Rs.15
(SR1.25), his paper or plastic-made RVD will cost just about Rs.1.50 and has 131 times more storage capacity.
Sainul, who has just turned 24, says that instead
of using zeroes and ones for computing, he used geometric shapes
such as
circles, squares and triangles for computing which combine with various colors and preserve the data in
images. An RVD therefore looks like a
printout of modern art.
He says all kinds of data has to be first
converted into a common format called “Rainbow Format.”
In a demo at his college laboratory, this writer
could see text typed on 432 pages of foolscap paper being stored in
a
four square inch paper. The writer was even shown a 45-second video clip
of a Malayalam film stored on an ordinary
paper. Sainul was guided by
Prof. Hyderali, head of the MCA Department at the College in all these
projects.
Sainul says the biggest advantage of the new
technology will be the biodegradable nature of his storage devices
which
will do away with e-waste pollution.
He says with the popularity of his Rainbow
Technology, computer or fashion magazines in future need not carry CDs
in a pack.
The computable data printed on a paper can be
attached in a tearable sheet and will be capable of carrying even
software programs, or movies, MP3 data or text. Sainul is
promoting the theme of disposable storage and says
newspapers, magazines and video
albums could benefit from the idea and also distribute their material in
this form
in order to curtail use of paper and facilitate the disposal
of the waste.
Sainul is simultaneously molding the technology
into “Rainbow Cards” which will be of SIM card size and store 5 GB
of
data equivalent to three films of DVD quality. Sainul says as “Rainbow
Cards” will become popular, Rainbow Card
Readers will replace CD drives
of mobile phone and computer notebooks and will enable more data in
portable
forms for mini digital readers.
Large-scale manufacture of the Rainbow card will
bring down its cost to only 50 paise (half a rupee). He is currently
in
consultation with a UK-based company for manufacture of the Rainbow
Cards.
Sainul has also put forward the idea of databank with Rainbow Technology, which will enable huge servers with a
high storage capacity.
Quoting a research study carried out in the US in 2003, he says the entire static
data in the US would require $5
billion (Indian Rupees 230 billion) for storage with the current storage
devices. But Rainbow based databank could
reduce the cost to Rs.3.5
million. He says he could construct databank with almost 123.60 Peta
Byte (PB) capacity.
Sainul is also working on project Xpressa, a
software package for regional languages. This will enable the Internet
browser to access the newspapers available on Internet through mobile
phone in audible form.
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