San Jose-based Conner Peripherals Inc is hoping to achieve a big increase in areal storage density on its disk drives by applying an emerging technology developed a development stage company called VISqUS Corp, which Conner has acquired for an undisclosed cash sum. VISqUS is working on a proprietary head-to-medium interface technology, and Conner hopes to have the first drives using the technology out as soon as next year. According to Finis Conner, at this point, the technology is in its early development, but if it bears fruit it could have a major impact on important segments of the drive industry, noting that there is no guarantee that it will work. The technology a technique for near-contact recording by supporting the head on a thin liquid bearing instead of air, and VISqUS has applied for extensive patent protection. VISqIS is based in San Diego and was formed in 1989 with the backing of US Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, 3i Plc, and Crosspoint; it currently employs about 20 people.
