&gt; couldn&#x27;t the head read several tracks at once?<p>The paper in fact suggests this and also cites an attempt by Conner to introduce multiple actuator drives:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pcguide.com&#x2F;ref&#x2F;hdd&#x2F;op&#x2F;actMultiple-c.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pcguide.com&#x2F;ref&#x2F;hdd&#x2F;op&#x2F;actMultiple-c.html</a>