Case Study OF Holographic Storage

Holographic Storage is a potential replacement technology in the area of high-capacity data storage currently dominated by magnetic and conventional optical data storage. Magnetic and optical data storage devices rely on individual bits being stored as distinct magnetic or optical changes on the surface of the recording medium. Holographic data storage overcomes this limitation by recording information throughout the volume of the medium and is capable of recording multiple images in the same area utilizing light at different angles.

Additionally, whereas magnetic and optical data storage records information a bit at a time in a linear fashion, holographic storage is capable of recording and reading millions of bits in parallel, enabling data transfer rates greater than those attained by optical storage.

Recording data

Holographic data storage captures information using an optical inference pattern within a thick, photosensitive optical material. Light from a single laser beam is divided into two separate beams, a reference beam and an object or signal beam; a spatial light modulator is used to encode the object beam with the data for storage. An optical inference pattern results from the crossing of the beams’ paths, creating a chemical and/or physical change in the photosensitive medium; the resulting data is represented in an optical pattern of dark and light pixels. By adjusting the reference beam angle, wavelength, or media position, a multitude of holograms (theoretically, several thousand) can be stored on a single volume. The theoretical limits for the storage density of this technique are approximately tens of terabits (1 terabit = 1024 gigabits, 8 gigabits = 1 gigabyte) per cubic centimeter. In 2006, In Phase technologies published a white paper reporting an achievement of 500 GB/in².

Reading data

The stored data is read through the reproduction of the same reference beam used to create the hologram. The reference beam’s light is focused on the photosensitive material, illuminating the appropriate inference pattern, the light diffracts on the inference pattern, and projects the pattern onto a detector. The detector is capable of reading the data in parallel, over one millions bits at once, resulting in the fast data transfer rate. Files on the holographic drive can be accessed in less than 200 milliseconds.

Longevity

Holographic data storage can provide companies a method to preserve and archive information. The write-once, read many (WORM) approach to data storage would ensure content security, preventing the information from being overwritten or modified. Manufacturers believe this technology can provide safe storage for content without degradation for more than 50 years, far exceeding current data storage options. Counterpoints to this claim point out the evolution of data reader technology changes every ten years; therefore, being able to store data for 50-100 years would not matter if you could not read or access it. However, this is thought to be a weak argument, because a storage method that works very well will not be outdated easily; plus there is the possibility that the new technology will be backwards-compatible with the technology it replaces, similar to how DVD technology is backwards-compatible with CD technology.

Terms used

Sensitivity refers to the extent of refractive index modulation produced per unit of exposure. Diffraction efficiency is proportional to the square of the index modulation times the effective thickness.

The dynamic range determines how many holograms may be multiplexed in a single volume data.

Spatial light modulators (SLM) are pixelated input devices (liquid crystal panels), used to imprint the data to be stored on the object beam.

Technical aspects

Like other media, holographic media is divided into write once (where the storage medium undergoes some irreversible change), and rewritable media (where the change is reversible). Rewritable holographic storage can be achieved via the photorefractive effect in crystals:

§  Mutually coherent light from two sources creates an interference pattern in the media. These two sources are called the reference beam and the signal.

§  Where there is constructive interference the light is bright and electrons can be promoted from the valence band to the conduction band of the material (since the light has given the electrons energy to jump the energy gap). The positively charged vacancies they leave are called holes and they must be immobile in rewritable holographic materials. Where there is destructive interference, there is less light and few electrons are promoted.

§  Electrons in the conduction band are free to move in the material. They will experience two opposing forces that determine how they move. The first force is the Coulomb force between the electrons and the positive holes that they have been promoted from. This force encourages the electrons to stay put or move back to where they came from. The second is the pseudo-force of diffusion that encourages them to move to areas where electrons are less dense. If the coulomb forces are not too strong, the electrons will move into the dark areas.

§  Beginning immediately after being promoted, there is a chance that a given electron will recombine with a hole and move back into the valence band. The faster the rate of recombination, the fewer the number of electrons that will have the chance to move into the dark areas. This rate will affect the strength of the hologram.

§  After some electrons have moved into the dark areas and recombined with holes there, there is a permanent space charge field between the electrons that moved to the dark spots and the holes in the bright spots. This leads to a change in the index of refraction due to the electro-optic effect.

When the information is to be retrieved or read out from the hologram, only the reference beam is necessary. The beam is sent into the material in exactly the same way as when the hologram was written. As a result of the index changes in the material that were created during writing, the beam splits into two parts. One of these parts recreates the signal beam where the information is stored. Something like a CCD camera can be used to convert this information into a more usable form.

Holograms can theoretically store one bit per cubic block the size of the wavelength of light in writing. For example, light from a helium-neon laser is red, 632.8 nm wavelength light. Using light of this wavelength, perfect holographic storage could store 4 gigabits per cubic millimeter. In practice, the data density would be much lower, for at least four reasons:

§  The need to add error-correction

§  The need to accommodate imperfections or limitations in the optical system

§  Economic payoff (higher densities may cost disproportionately more to achieve)

§  Design technique limitations--a problem currently faced in magnetic Hard Drives wherein magnetic domain configuration prevents manufacture of disks that fully utilize the theoretical limits of the technology.

Unlike current storage technologies that record and read one data bit at a time, holographic memory writes and reads data in parallel in a single flash of light.

Two-color recording

For two-color holographic recording, the reference and signal beams are fixed to a particular wavelength (green, red or IR) and the sensitizing/gating beam is a separate, shorter wavelength (blue or UV). The sensitizing/gating beam is used to sensitize the material before and during the recording process, while the information is recorded in the crystal via the reference and signal beams. It is shone intermittently on the crystal during the recording process for measuring the diffracted beam intensity. Readout is achieved by illumination with the reference beam alone. Hence the readout beam with a longer wavelength would not be able to excite the recombined electrons from the deep trap centers during readout, as they need the sensitizing light with shorter wavelength to erase them.

Usually, for two-color holographic recording, two different dopants are required to promote trap centers, which belong to transition metal and rare earth elements and are sensitive to certain wavelengths. By using two dopants, more trap centers would be created in the Lithium niobate crystal. Namely a shallow and a deep trap would be created. The concept now is to use the sensitizing light to excite electrons from the deep trap farther from the valence band to the conduction band and then to recombine at the shallow traps nearer to the conduction band. The reference and signal beam would then be used to excite the electrons from the shallow traps back to the deep traps. The information would hence be stored in the deep traps. Reading would be done with the reference beam since the electrons can no longer be excited out of the deep traps by the long wavelength beam.

Effect of annealing

For a doubly doped LiNbO3 crystal there exists an optimum oxidation/reduction state for desired performance. This optimum depends on the doping levels of shallow and deep traps as well as the annealing conditions for the crystal samples. This optimum state generally occurs when 95 – 98% of the deep traps are filled. In a strongly oxidized sample holograms cannot be easily recorded and the diffraction efficiency is very low. This is because the shallow trap is completely empty and the deep trap is also almost devoid of electrons. In a highly reduced sample on the other hand, the deep traps are completely filled and the shallow traps are also partially filled. This results in very good sensitivity (fast recording) and high diffraction efficiency due to the availability of electrons in the shallow traps. However during readout, all the deep traps get filled quickly and the resulting holograms reside in the shallow traps where they are totally erased by further readout. Hence after extensive readout the diffraction efficiency drops to zero and the hologram stored cannot be fixed.

Development and marketing

At the National Association of Broadcasters 2005 (NAB) convention in Las Vegas, In Phase conducted the first public demonstrations of the world’s first prototype of a commercial storage device at the Maxell Corporation of America booth.

The three main companies involved in developing holographic memory, as of 2002, were In Phase, Polaroid spinoff Aprilis, and Optware of Japan. Although holographic memory has been discussed since the 1960s, and has been touted for near-term commercial application at least since 2001, it has yet to convince critics that it can find a viable market. As of 2002, planned holographic products did not aim to compete head to head with hard drives, but instead to find a market niche based on virtues such as speed of access.

In the video game market

Some have speculated that Nintendo will be the first video game console maker to implement holographic data storage due to the recent uncovering of a Joint Research Agreement between In Phase and Nintendo.

Nintendo is also mentioned in the patent as a joint applicant: "... disclosure is herein made that the claimed invention was made pursuant to a Joint Research Agreement as defined in 35 U.S.C. 103 (c)(3), that was in effect on or before the date the claimed invention was made, and as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of the Joint Research Agreement, by or on the behalf of Nintendo Co., and InPhase Technologies, Inc."

Note

All content of that assignment is hundred percent appropriate

Continue Reading...

Case Study on Cash Registers & Point Of Sale (POS)

This case study is about a machine that keeps records of our sales and receipts, also known as cash register. A cash register is a mechanical or electronic device for calculating and recording sales transactions, and an attached cash drawer for storing cash. The cash register also usually prints a receipt for the customer.

In most cases the drawer can be opened only after a sale, except when using a special key, which only senior employees and the owner have. This reduces the risk of employees stealing from the shop owner by not recording a sale and pocketing the money, when a customer does not need a receipt but has to be given change cash is more easily checked against recorded sales than inventory. In fact, cash registers were first invented for the purpose of eliminating employee theft or embezzlement, and their original name was the Incorruptible Cashier. It has also been suggested that odd pricing came about because by charging odd amounts like 49 or 99 cents, the cashier probably had to open the till for the penny change and thus announce the sale.

History of Cash Registers

The first cash register was invented by James Ritty following the American Civil War. He was the owner of a saloon in Dayton, Ohio, USA, and wanted to stop employees from pilfering his profits. While on a steamboat trip to Europe, Ritty was intrigued by a mechanical device on the ship's propeller that tracked of the number of revolutions for maintenance purposes. Upon his return to Dayton, Ritty and his brother John began working to duplicate this idea to record cash transactions at the saloon with a mechanical device. In 1879, the Ritty brothers patented their invention as "Ritty's Incorruptible Cashier," or, as we know it today, the cash register.

The first registers were entirely mechanical, without receipts. The employee was required to ring up every transaction on the register, and when the total key was pushed, the drawer opened and a bell would ring, alerting the manager to a sale taking place. Those original machines were nothing but simple adding machines.

National Cash Register expressly built for a merchant in Nové Město NAD Metují, Austro-Hungary, 1904. Shortly after his patent, Ritty became overwhelmed with the responsibilities of running two businesses, so he sold all of his interests in the cash register business to Jacob H. Eckert of Cincinnati, a china and glassware salesman, who formed the National Manufacturing Company. In 1884 Eckert sold the company to John H. Patterson, who renamed the company the National Cash Register Company and improved the cash register by adding a paper roll to record sales transactions, thereby creating the receipt. The original purpose of the receipt was enhanced fraud protection. The business owner could read the receipts to ensure that cashiers charged customers the correct amount for each transaction and did not pilfer the cash drawer.

In 1906, while working at the National Cash Register company, inventor Charles F. Kettering designed a cash register with an electric motor.

                                                

A leading designer, builder, manufacturer, seller and exporter of cash registers in the 1950s until the 1970s was London-based (and later Brighton-based), Gross Cash Registers Ltd, founded by brothers Sam and Henry Gross. Their cash registers were particularly popular around the time of decimalization in Britain in early 1971, Henry having invented the only known model of cash register which could switch currencies from £sd to £p so that retailers could easily change from one to the other on or after Decimal Day.

Modern Days of Cash Registers

Over the years, more enhancements were made to the cash registers until the early 1970s, when the first computer-driven cash registers were introduced.

The first computer-driven cash registers were basically a mainframe computer packaged as a store controller that could control certain registers. These point of sale (POS) systems were the first to commercially utilize client-server technology, peer-to-peer communications, Local Area Network (LAN) backups, and remote initialization.

In the late 1980s, retail software based on PC technology began to make its way into mainstream retail businesses.

Today, retail point of sale systems are light years ahead of where they began. Today's POS systems are faster, more secure, and more reliable than their predecessors, and allow retailers to operate every facet of their business with a single, integrated point of sale system. This is how the revolution began form cash registers to point of sale

Point of Sale (POS) & e-Commerce

Points of sale (pos) are nothing but computerized cash registers with a lot of new functions. Unlike cash register pos can do number of things at a time like inventory control, Invoicing and Receiving, Interfacing with Accounting software, Reports, Enforced accuracy, Integrated CC handling, General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Preferred by tax consultants, portable sales, use credit card, online sale database etc.

                                                  Unknowingly cash registers and pos play an essential role in the concept or e-commerce. Cash register and pos are the basic ground of e-commerce. Electronic commerce, commonly known as (electronic marketing) e-commerce or e-commerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. 

The amount of trade conducted electronically has grown extraordinarily with widespread Internet usage. The use of commerce is conducted in this way, spurring and drawing on innovations in electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web at least at some point in the transaction's lifecycle; although it can encompass a wider range of technologies such as e-mail as well as POS. For example more than thousands of portable POS are used by DHL by their customer service representative. Whenever a parcel is received or delivered at that same moment their web site is updated by the portable POS system we can even monitor it on their web site online.

Cash Register vs. Point of Sale (POS) System

The one item in a retail store a business owner can't do without is the cash management system. Whether it's the traditional, electronic cash register or an elaborate computerized point of sale (POS) system, every store needs a machine to process sales. When the doors are open and the lights are on, the cash register becomes more than a safe place to store money. It has the ability to save money, quickly process a customer's transaction and accurately keep records. One reason for the high initial expense involved with a cash register or point of sale system is that a business can expect to get many years of service from the first machine they buy. The life expectancy of a cash register is between 10-15 years, with upgrades around 5-7 years.

Both of them have their own benefits cash register are used in small retail shop, stores or clothing outlet now a days where as POS are used for large hypermarket in hotels reservation and table management for restaurants, bars, and any business in the chain food service industry

Benefits of POS Systems and Cash Registers

Both a POS system and an electronic cash register are absolutely essential for a store's smooth check out. POS systems are ideal for larger stores and chains whereas the cash register shines in smaller shops and business, where advanced features are simply not required. You should keep in mind that the best POS solution depends on your business and its requirements. Glance over Key issues  you should consider, when evaluating a POS purchase.

Key Cash Register Benefits

• Stores money efficiently and securely
• Improves efficiency and transaction processing
• Low initial investment
• Low learning curves as functions are straight forward and simple
• Gets you started quickly
• Satisfies tax regulations in fiscal countries
• Fewer components – all-in-one – printer, keyboard, display
• Producer assumes full responsibility for the entire product, including software
• Secure – no dangers of virus infection or common PC problems
• Small foot print and power consumption
• Basic functions and reporting – covers the basics

Key POS System Benefits

• Adds more value that will cover its initial cost
• Handles greater product volumes
• Makes complex business logic possible
• Provides more management possibilities of your daily operations such as sales tracking, refunds, time clocks, menus, pricing, revenue maximization, etc
• Provides advanced functionalities such as reservation and table management for restaurants, hotels, bars, and any business in the food service industry
• Realizes enhanced savings with greater efficiency
• Delivers better workflow for staff
• Improves customer service and increases customer through-put
• Easily manage large numbers of customers and groups
• Allows restaurant businesses to combine multiple services into a single invoice (hotel room, meals, events, services)
• Graphical management of store assets such as table, rooms, bar, etc
• Delivers superior reporting and analysis features
• Streamlines inventory management
• Portable Sales facility
• More detailed reports
• Better track inventory
• Improve accuracy
• Easily grows with business
• Back Office integration

The Meze Bar improves customer service with the latest POS technology

Company background

The Meze Bar is a Mediterranean Restaurant specializing in Turkish cuisine. The restaurant was established at its original Southgate premises in 2000 by Selcuk Ibrahim. Two years later Selcuk set up a new restaurant in East Finchley North London. Since the new Meze Bar opened in April 2003 business has been steadily increasing, with the restaurant recently acquiring adjacent premises for expansion - effectively doubling in size. In 2005 the restaurant won the best neighborhood restaurant award sponsored by LBC and The Independent newspaper.

EPOS solution

When the Meze Bar expanded the floor space increased to include outdoor seating and three separate internal seating areas. This meant staff were spending an increasing amount of time running backwards and forwards between the kitchen, bar and table areas. This resulted in delays with order preparation and orders being delivered to the wrong tables. Realizing that improvements needed to be made, Selcuk approached a Casio dealer, who suggested installing the Casio QT-6000 touch screen POS system with four ORDERMAN DON Wireless Waitressing terminals.

Business benefits

The installation involved one Casio QT-6000 touch screen POS terminal in the bar area and four ORDERMAN DON Wireless Waitressing terminals for the waiting staff. The Wireless Waitressing terminals link to a kitchen printer, allowing staff to take orders from the customers table and remotely submit them to the kitchen for preparation. Orders can be prepared more quickly and staffs are always available near the tables to take customer orders. The Casio QT-6000 and ORDERMAN DON system is easy to operate. It was installed and staff were trained on Friday, and that evening the new system went live – during the Meze Bar’s busiest trading period! The transition went very smoothly, with staff noticing the difference immediately. Selcuk comments “I now have a system that enables us to serve more customers in busy times, without staff having to run between tables, terminal, bar and the kitchen. I also have a very happy environment because the system increased the satisfaction of everyone from my chef and staff to my customers.” The new system has allowed Selcuk to re-organise his staff, with key waiting staff acting as sales people, always present on the restaurant floor taking orders from customers. Other staff deliver the food and drinks to the tables. Customers have responded well to this new system, with many being amazed when their drinks are delivered when they are still giving their food order! Selcuk hopes that this new, more efficient and sales focused staffing arrangement will allow him to increase turnover by 10 - 20%. This is quite a modest goal, as each table ordering one or two additional items, such as coffees, will achieve this.

Consider Before Buying a Cash Register or POS

For a new business, the choice of cash register or POS system may simply depend on the budget of the retailer. Don't pass the responsibility of selecting the cash register to employees or a consultant. Do your homework. Before selecting a cash register or POS system, understand your business needs, the cash management options and POS hardware available and make your selection based on an educated decision.

Benefits of a POS System

• More detailed reports
• Better track inventory
• Improve accuracy
• Easily grows with business

Benefits of a Cash Register

• Low cost for startups
• Most models easy to use
• Fewer components
• Basic functions and reporting

Before you buy either a cash register or a POS system, learn what kind of warranty or support comes with the machine. Plan how you or your staff will be trained to use the equipment. Once you make your purchase, stock up on any necessary supplies such as ink ribbons or receipt paper.

Where to Buy

Complete retail point of sale systems can run anywhere in the neighborhood of 135,000tk to 1,380,000tk. The more POS hardware added to the system, the higher the cost. Retailers can find a simple cash register for under 16,000tk, but expect to pay between 20,000tk to 56,000tk for more advanced registers with scanners, display pole and many functions. It is fine to choose a low-end model to start with as long as you upgrade later, as the business grows.

Look in your local paper for businesses closing their doors. A second hand cash register or POS system will be much less expensive than a new one. If the business has recently closed, it may be a fairly newer model. Another option for cash-strapped start-up businesses is to lease a system from a business equipment supplier.

Before you buy or lease a cash register or POS system, get the advice of an experienced professional before making your final decision. A bad choice could result in loss of sales or negative customer service. However, in the end only you know what's right for your retail business

My Review

Cash registers & POS is about managing the system and the way we run our business it is not about the fancy portable POS and good looking cash registers. A cash register or a POS can entirely change the way we run your business. It’s all about doing smart business and satisfying our clients. It could bring a revolutionary change in the country if we start the practice of cash registers and e-commerce in our cities. The concepts behind these changes are micro management. Life will be much easier than keeping one eye on the counter whole day long. As a reviewer I would like to suggest our government to import few thousands of reconditioned cash registers and POS that would help our economy grow widely, the taxation could be monitored very closely if all the Cash registers & POS are connected to internet through which the government can keep record of each organization and there taxation. Already e-commerce has been introduced in our country last weekend 7/11/2009. Whereas Cash registers & POS are also plays an important role in e-commerce, so it should also be introduce as quickly as possible. As a result of these changes many well known companies have achieved what they are now like Toyota, Pizza Hut, KFC, DHL, A&W, Wall Mart, Carrefour, Giordano, Gucci, Dunhill, NEXT etc these organization have more than hundreds of showroom,  outlets and offices which are managed by Cash registers & POS and e-commerce.

Continue Reading...