The American computer giant IBM says its scientists have managed to cram four times more information on the surface of a new super-disk than current disk drives.

IBM (International Business Machines) says it has developed a computer disk drive which can store 11.6 billion bits - the equivalent of all the letters in 1,500 novels - per square inch.

The corporation, based in Armonk, New York, said the new storage technology would not appear in personal computers for several years.

IBM out to regain lost ground

But IBM said the technology demonstrates its engineers can continue to increase disk-drive capacity by 60 per cent each year for the foreseeable future.

Disk drives are the devices used to permanently store programs, documents and pictures within computers.

They have become increasingly critical as people view their computers as communication devices and Internet browsing tools, instead of number crunchers or word processors.

The development is another sign IBM is out to regain lost ground in the $25 billion disk drive industry.

Sleeping giant

As IBM was reeling from financial losses in the early 1990s, rival companies like Seagate Technology Inc prospered at its expense.

John Monroe, analyst at market researcher Dataquest, said: "During 1997, IBM demonstrated a surprising proficiency at bringing its renowned technology out of the lab and into the market on time and in volume.

"Once a sleeping giant, IBM seems to be fully awake."

IBM said it squeezed more capacity out of its latest drive by improving several components.

Currie Munce, director of IBM's storage systems, said scientists will be able to refine their technology for at least another three years before they hit physical roadblocks.
 

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