In the last 40 years there have been many predictions of limits to this continued increase in density, most based on engineering challenges.
Today there are predicted limits to areal density increases based on fundamental physical processes.
I will begin the talk with a general overview of IBM research. Thereafter I will discuss progress in magnetic recording disk technology since its introduction in 1956 and the challenges and prospects for continued areal density growth in the future. Challenges to be overcome relate to mechanics and electronics as well as magnetics.