Magnetic tape technology in the 1990s

The extensibility of the 8-mm recording technology as it concerns generation-to-generations compatibility, system transfer rates, physical size, and volumetric capacity is explored. A practical progression of tape generations from early inception to the 6-MB/s transfer rate of the future and an accompanying capacity increase to upwards of 67 is described. Possible technology paths toward greater volumetric efficiency in both media- and recording-device physical sizes are discussed, moving the latter from a 5.25-in full height to a 3.5-in form factor.<>