Sony disk to store 500GB.

The data space race is heating up, after Sony's announcement that it is working on a seven-layer optical disk that will be capable of storing more than 500 gigabytes (GB) of data. The multi-layered holographic recording technology used by Sony will produce standard-sized disks able to store 500 GB of any kind of data, from HD video to computer data The company's "Micro-Reflector" method is being used to write to seven layers per disk. Each layer's memory density is 1.2 GB.

The new holographic recording technology records data in the form of laser interference fringes giving disks the same size as today's DVDs the ability to store as much as one terabyte of data with a transfer speed of one GB per second. Those interested will have to be patient, however. According to Sony, the disk should be available within the next three years.