x and y directions such that probes 12 fig1 can be placed over desired storage cells on the storage substrate 10 data sensed by the probes 12 is provided to buffers 102 which store output data for retrieval by an external device the buffers 102 may also store write data to be written to storage cells 19 fig1 in the storage substrate 10 alternatively the actuator 100 is operatively coupled to move the probe substrate 50 or to move both the probe substrate 50 and the storage substrate 10 the actuator 100 is also able to move the probe substrate 50 and or the storage substrate 10 in the z direction which is generally perpendicular to the x and y directions fig4 is a side view of the tips 14 and 16 of the probe 12 in contact with the storage surface 20 of the storage substrate 10 this position enables the probe 12 to write to a storage cell 19 as shown in fig5 heating of the tips 14 and 16 and downward pressure applied onto the cantilever 13 of the probe 12 causes dents 18 to be formed in the storage surface 20 to read from the storage cell 19 the cantilever 13 of the probe 12 is actuated to a slanted position shown in fig6 such that the cantilever 13 is at a slanted angle not parallel with respect to the storage surface 20 at the slanted angle one tip 14 is in contact with the storage surface 20 of the storage substrate 10 in another implementation during read operations both tips 14 and 16 can be in contact.