Isolinear optical chip
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In the Star Trek fictional universe, the isolinear optical chip is a common format for data storage among the more developed warp-capable cultures of the alpha and beta quadrants, particularly the United Federation of Planets. The format employs holographic technology to store data three-dimensionally throughout the medium.
The Starfleet-issued isolinear chip is a small, flat, rectangular unit featuring onboard nanotech processors to aid in memory access and with a maximum capacity of 2.15 kiloquads. Though normally easily corrupted, chips may be coated with a layer of clear plastic for protection in environments more hostile than a computer core without affecting read and write capabilities; such ruggedized chips are commonly used in tricorders, PADDs, and other handheld devices with isolinear chip drives.
Cardassians use isolinear rods which are nearly identical in function and construction.
[edit] Real world isolinear chips
The real world equivalents of isolinear chips/rods are USB flash drives. The appearance and function of the two devices are very similar despite isolinear chips featuring on Star Trek:The Next Generation some 10 years before flash drives were invented. Sony's Memory Stick and Micro Vault Tiny bear striking resemblances to isolinear chips from the Next Generation era.
The Holographic Versatile Card is another technology which resembles closely the isolinear chip from Star Trek.
