I don't know exact cost of th Bits-to-Film-Process, but there are some hints. To explain how it works some words first (I am not an expert, but I know some things about it):
- There's a swiss company using this technology they call bits-on-film:
http://www.fachlabor-gubler.ch/eng/archiving/bits-on-film.html- A bitstream of data is converted in a pixel-code (like a barcode). That pixel code is made after an algorithm. They say that up to 30% of the code can be destroyed and data can still be retrieved to 100%, due to this algorithm.
- Data is then written with a
laser recorder on standard micrographic film like
Ilfochrome Colour Microfilm (Color) or Agfa Microfilm. Its possible to write it on 35mm film rollls or 105mm film sheets.
- The film or sheets can be read by any scanning machine with high resolution.
- Then the pixelcode can be reconverted into bits (or bitcoins hrhr..)
The price depends on a variety of factors:
- chosen film material
- Algorithm used to draw pixel-code/barcode
- chosen print density (bigger pixels make it easyer to read)
In a slideshow this company made they speak about a price from 7500 Euros to 80'000 Euros per Terabyte:
http://www.dgph.de/content/sektionen/wissenschaft_technik/symposium08/Gubler-Vortrag.pdf Slide 10 ist about costs of different techniques (in english).
I think to bring bitcoins to microfilm you need:
1. An algorithm to encode and decode data into pixelcode
2. A laser recorder
3. some microfilm rolls
4. someone who knows how to bring these things together
5. Also don't forget that the film rolls have to be stored under perfect archival conditions.
More to read here:
[1] C. Voges: „‚Bits on Film‘ – Langzeitarchivierung digitaler Daten“, Fernseh- und Kino-
technik (FKT), Jahrgang 65, Ausgabe 3/2011, S. 80–84.
[2] C. Voges, T. Fingscheidt: „Technology and Applications of Digital Data Storage on Mi-
crofilm“, Journal of Imaging Science and Technology (JIST), Vol. 53, No. 6, Nov. 2009,
S. 060 505-1–060 505-8.
[3] C. Voges: „An Introduction to Long-Term Archiving of Digital Data on Film Material“,
Tagungsband der 26. Tonmeistertagung, Leipzig, Nov. 2010, S. 243–249.
[4] C. Voges, J. Fröhlich: „Applications of Data Storage on Cinematographic Film for
Long-Term Preservation of Digital Productions“, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal,
Vol. 121, No. 1, Jan./Feb. 2012, S. 39–42.
[5] C. Voges, V. Märgner, T. Fingscheidt: „Investigations on Color Microfilm as a Medium
for Long-Term Storage of Digital Data“, Proceedings of IS&T Archiving Conference,
Den Haag, Niederlande, Juni 2010, S. 142–147.
[6] C. Voges, J. Fröhlich: „Long-Term Storage of Digital Data on Cinematographic Film“,
Proceedings of IS&T Archiving Conference, Salt Lake City, USA, UT, Mai 2011,
S. 158–161.
