VI. METHODOLOGY

1. Objectives :

The main objectives of this portfolio are:

a. To introduce the audience to a new technique, whose principles are unique and revolutionary.
b. Present Holography as an emerging technology that promises to meet the data storage needs of today's merging technologies.
c. Create an awareness in the media and communications community of current applications of holography in computer data storage and its future promise, as innovations in computer media should be exciting news for all communication professionals.
d. Stimulate interest in exploring and applying this new technology (when available).
e. Assure familiarity with key generic concepts and terminology related to holography.
f. Generate a dynamic perspective of holographic technology, to allow an intelligent evaluation of its potential, and also existing limitations, which when resolved satisfactorily will lead to the development of technologically and commercially viable holographic memory systems.

The research includes a review of some typical alternative mass storage options for multimedia applications, and the consequent development of holography, with a survey of the current state of the technique in data storage.

2. The Audience:

The paper is not intended for specialized researchers, or leaders in this field. It is, instead, written by a communications student, to other communication students and professionals, and expresses the deep interest of the author on this particular subject, and attempts to present the subject of holographic technology in a simple but exhaustive manner, and should be viewed as an introduction to a new field. The emphasis is not on holographic techniques and devices but rather on applications and implementations of media and marketing concepts.

3. Strategies :

Both primary and secondary research methodologies have been followed in the production of this study: Primary research : By obtaining current data directly from researchers and companies working in the field. This is vital for developing accurate, real-time analysis of specific products and technologies. Secondary research : By obtaining data from published sources and proprietary data sources. This yields information regarding, trends within the industry, technical alternatives, and overall industry situation. Interviews with officials from academic institutions, private sector firms,and research organizations knowledgeable about holography was initially planned, but extraordinary difficulties were encountered in getting any type of collaboration, due mainly to the fact that most of the research is done under the auspices and sponsorship of the department of Defense. However, a key interview with Dr. T.C. Lee, director of optical engineering at Tamarack Research (one of the main companies leading the race in holographic technology research) was obtained. There is no Holographic technology journal. The references for this research come from a multitude of sources, including books, magazines, interviews, and the internet. An effort was made to use widely accessible and even popular publications, not only the more professional ones. The citations in the text should provide an adequate starting point for anyone who is interested in further details

4. Multimedia Presentation :

A final presentation of this project will be made in the form of a multimedia presentation (multimedia presentation meaning one in which the computer coordinates the display of different types and sources of material, text,. still graphics, animation, audio, and video) using Microsoft PowerPoint, which is one of the best presentation graphics software available in the market today.. PowerPoint is a complete presentation graphics package that provides text handling, drawing, outlining, graphing, clip art and much more. It also offers rich speaker support and aids to help create great looking presentations. In fact one of the main purposes of this project is to develop a dynamic message that will create interest, and even enthusiasm in the audience, by selecting, planning and designing an oral delivery supported by visuals that will reinforce and in even carry the bulk of the message. In the presentation an attempt will be made to explain the situations, outline the problems, and identify the solutions.

5. The Internet And The World Wide Web :

According to some analysts, over the next five years, the growth of commercial opportunities on the Internet will be the most major development in the information services industry. The World Wide Web, also, is quickly becoming the standard means for corporations, and individuals, to connect to the Internet. The multimedia aspects of the WWW have made it one of the fastest developing areas of the Internet. The ease of use for the end user and provider, together with facilities offered: interactivity, text, photos, video and sound make it attractive, and useful.

The WWW started as a scientific research facility and since then has become the most active and attractive multimedia section of the Internet. WWW users receive pages of material, text and graphics in color. Sections of these pages are interactive. Text, for example, can be highlighted to produce a hypertext link. If users place their cursor on any of this highlighted text and then 'click' their mouse, they will be provided with a new page of text or graphics. The new page can come from any other computer around the world, which is currently connected.

Because any area of a WWW page can be made to take the user to more information, the system can be considered interactive. References to a text can be hypertext linked to other texts, which are then made available to the reader in full. If graphics are included, particular picture can be linked to, for example, a larger version of the same image, a detail of the image, a text description or a completely different WWW site. It is also possible to produce links in the pages to audio and video files, so a picture can become animated or sound can be played back. Again anything that can be digitized can be accessed from WWW pages using these links. In effect, the WWW provides simple 'point and click' access to all of the facilities the Internet offers in one user interface. Also, the WWW is interesting because the flow of information is not one way, from the remote host computer to the local receiving computer. Feedback can be sent from the user to the host also.

6. Production details :

The webpage is produced on a Macintosh computer. Scanned or drawn color images and graphic titles, which are produced using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dimensions, and Painter, are combined with text information, and then pasted into an HTML editor. The page is laid out, has hypertext links for text and graphics included and is then sent to the Netscape server in Houston, Texas, , via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) over the Internet, where it is accessible to WWW users.

The internet webpage will include updates on the progress of holographic technology, a copy of the research paper, and profiles of several companies involved in holographic research, like Tamarack Storage Devices, Optitek Inc., and Accuwave. Many companies are now using the web to improve their communications infrastructure, access substantial amounts of information, expand commerce, and improve their customer relations. And as researchers are dabbling to find a suitable recording media for holographic systems, the internet can be an unmatched meeting-ground for exchange of expertise and information. Links to relevant sites will be also provided , where the viewer-reader can obtain detailed information about specific aspects of holographic technology that weren't covered in detail in the paper. Other additions are planned to the web site, which will include job and investment opportunities in this new and emerging technology, and also other sections that will be used to discuss other application of holography like imaging, video, solar energy, and neural networks. Viewers-reader will be encouraged to participate with their ideas and suggestions by sending e-mail.

The main aim of the webpage is to gather a vast amounts of information about many aspects of holography with particular emphasis on computer data storage, video and imaging, and make that information available to the general public at no cost. In the original proposal, it aims to direct it's services at:

- Communication students-faculty
- People interested in holographic technology
- Holographic storage researchers
- Holographic storage companies
- Potential investors

V. CRITIQUE

As a matter of fact, holography is so new that many questions are left open about the nature and the future of this technology. Therefore, any attempt to clarify the issues raised by holography, on a scientific or cultural level, must have a prospective rather than conclusive tone, concentrating more thoroughly on general points and on the promise of its potentialities rather han on the records of its historical achievements so far, highlighting the most important issues which, when resolved satisfactorily will lead to the development of technologically and commercially viable holographic memory systems. From the author's research and the excellent reviews on holographic data storage that have been published, from the technological and commercial point of view, one gets the impression that holographic technologies, though very fascinating, had not reached a stage of maturity sufficient to pose a threat to other types of memories (Pappu, 1996). Despite all the advances made over the past few years, several issues have impeded the successful implementation of holographic storage. Most important has been the lack of a suitable material system. Yet, with the recently renewed interest in holographic technology researchers are more hopeful that not only will they identify a material system, but integrate it into a workable holographic storage system. It's hoped that such a system will one day surpass today's technologies in terms of cost and performance. By some estimates, real industry impacts from this technology could be as close as five years away (Henue, 1996).

Optical technology has been experiencing a setback due to the stiff competition from semiconductor and magnetic technologies (Lorentz, 1996). But recently the winds of change seem to favor optical technology thanks to a better understanding of the science and technology of volume holograms, and the emergence of a mature optoelectronics industry, which has produced the inexpensive, compact and power-efficient devices (lasers, detectors, light reflectors, optical components, and materials) needed to build large scale holographic memories and to interface them with digital computers.

The author never intended to be a technological prophet, but just a good anticipator, who uses good strategic exploration. Many surprises are still in store for us. But anticipating broad patterns of change as well as foreseeing specific shifts in the ways and means of doing business and living our daily lives, is possible. Anticipation is the ability to foresee, to realize beforehand. To prosper and develop in this information age, a sophisticated and efficient use of multimedia is very important. Today, Multimedia is offering new means to create, organize and share information. Our economy itself is increasingly based on timely and well targeted information. It is believed that holographic technology, as a solution to the storage requirements of multimedia computing, will somehow shape the future with all its ramifications, challenges, and thrilling possibilities. Holographic technology is seen by many as the next logical step in computer storage, as it will more likely provide us with associative and parallel memories that will bring to the realm of the possible what has been dreamed by so many, for so long: The intelligent computer.

Holographic technology may be a golden door about to swing wide open, creating a time of unprecedented opportunity for any individual who notices that the way is clear and walks through with the right knowledge.

Nevertheless, we should acknowledge that it is very difficult to predict how society will use any tool or technology especially when its cost is changing as fast as information technology. Another important factor is that society not technology alone will determine how holography will play out. Progress in any domain is constructed and shaped by an array of forces, that include tradition, politics, economic interests, history, and competing technologies-the combined effects of which are extremely difficult to predict.


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