Years ago, I had a Danmere Backer that was sold by H45 technology. It was a device that attached to the parallel port (there was an ISA card version) and allowed you to save data to videotape by generating NTSC or PAL signals. A good idea in theory, but it had all of the problems that the old audio cassette tape had. For example, with cassette tape, random access to specific files was difficult.
The particular unit I had wouldn't generate "clean" NTSC video and would vertically roll the TV.
I think I only used it once. Recordable CD technology was faster, more easily verifiable, random access and less hassle. Especially when cds jumped from recording at 2x to 48x.
Still, it was a clever idea. It reminds me of Atari 2600 video, with all of the blocky scanlines.
There's an interesting webpage about linux drivers for the backer with screenshots.
http://linbacker.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html
I wonder if it would be possible to generate video signals from an old Amiga 500 that would allow data transfer with a backer.
Theoretically a 320x200 black and white screen could transfer 8k of data per video frame * 60fps = 480KB/sec.
This reminds me of the cauzin softstrip technology with data transfer over paper.
http://cauzin.com/
Or even data transfer over audio like Sofcast. There's an interesting article from PC Mag May 28, 1985.
https://www.google.com/search?q=software+takes+to+the+air+sofcast
Interesting ideas that never caught on.
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