10 Unique Creations Made From Computer Hard Drives [PICS]

On this day in 1956, IBM introduced the IBM 305 RAMAC — the first computer with a hard drive. It boasted capacity for less than 5MB of data stored on 50 24-inch disks.

Fast forward to today. The progress achieved in the computer storage market is quite astonishing. Although necessary, storage itself isn’t something that normally gets us excited, but we’ve decided to mark this important anniversary by exploring how people have gotten creative with hard disk drives.

SEE ALSO: Media Format Flops | Vintage Games Console Ads | Vintage Apple Products

From upcylcled drives made into jewelry, to discarded drives transformed into sculptures, we’ve found 10 interesting examples of hard drive creations from all around the world. Take a look through the photo gallery below and let us know in the comments which you like — and why.

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Italian artist Franco Recchia takes apart computers and "breathes new life into their component parts by reusing them to build ingenious skylines." The skyline pictured is Recchia's recycled view of Manhattan.

Made up of five small washers salvaged from old hard drives, this delicate necklace gives storage a second chance.

Cost: $12

This stunning vase can rotate 360-degrees thanks to its unique base, made from the insides of a hard disk drive.

Image courtesy of Jalex Studios

We've seen plenty of hard drive clocks, but this vintage version is special. Its disk platter dates from the early 1960s from a pack used in IBM's 2311 disk drives.

Cost: $129

One of the best DIY HDD projects we've seen, these hard drive wind chimes are a great use of old platters, which apparently make a lovely sound. There's a complete how-to available if you feel inspired.

Image courtesy of Windell Oskay

Staff at the Russian IT store VIST hand-made a range of toys created from old hard drives. Sadly our Russian isn't good enough to determine whether they're for sale or were a special side project.

The amazing Hard Drive Coffee Table features an original 26-inch diameter hard drive platter manufactured by Bryant-Excello back in the late sixties. With creations this stunning, we're almost sad storage has shrunk so much.

Hard drive spacers make up the planetary rings of this unique designer jewelry.

Cost: $38

The 86th Expeditionary Communications Squadron's sys-admin Miguel Rivera made headlines after being featured on Wired for his sculptures made from hard drives. Cars, bikes and even a robot were featured in Rivera's unusual series.

Finally, this example is a little different. Here, the external hard drive is presented as art by Manuel Palou. 5 Million Dollars 1 Terabyte is a sculpture that consists of a 1TB hard drive containing $5,000,000 worth of illegally downloaded software, games and books. Interesting, but is it art? Have your say in the comments below.

Image courtesy of VIST

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Yahoo! Brings Full-Length Bollywood Movies to your Computer Screen

A few months ago, YouTube India launched a new box office channel where one can watch popular movies from the Indian cinema every month. YouTube already had a huge library of Hindi and regional films online but the box office channel is more about showcasing the blockbuster hits.

Now Yahoo! is also getting into the online movie business in India.

They have introduced a new service called MoviePlex where you can enjoy full-length Bollywood movies on your computer screen anytime, anywhere. The movie collection at this is limited but does include some popular titles.

Unlike YouTube which streams movies in both standard and HD resolutions, the movies on Yahoo! are currently available only in SD. Also, Yahoo! uses Flash Video and thus you cannot watch the movies on iPad or other devices that do not support the Flash Player.

The movies on Yahoo! India are currently available for free and there are no in-stream ads to interrupt your experiences. I however doubt if people outside India can watch these movies.

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Nano-Structured Glass Creates New Five-Dimensional Computer Memory

Researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK have created new nano-structured glass and used it to create a new type of computer memory. Since the team of researchers published their paper in May this year, the new technology has been developed further and the team has now adapted it for a five-dimensional optical recording device. The new five-dimensional memory using the Nano Structured Glass means that data can be stored on the glass will last forever.

Professor Peter Kazansky explains:

“Before this we had to use a spatial light modulator based on liquid crystal which cost about £20,000,” – “Instead we have just put a tiny device into the optical beam and we get the same result.”

The new nano-structured glass will be used with applications in optical manipulation and will significantly reduce the cost of medical imaging. More technical information on the new Nano-Structured Glass Computer Memory can be found on the Universities website.

Source: Engadget

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