15th Edition

Understanding Computers
Today and Tomorrow
Comprehensive

Chapter 3
Storage

Deborah Morley
Charles S. Parker Copyright 2015 CengageLearning
 Storage System Characteristics

• Storage Media and Storage Devices

– Medium
• Hardware where data is stored
• DVD disc, flash memory card, etc.
– Device
• DVD drive, flash memory card reader, etc.
• Medium is inserted into device to be used
– Can be internal, external, or remote
– Storage devices are typically identified by letter

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 Storage System Characteristics

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 Storage System Characteristics

• Logical vs. Physical Representation

– File
• Anything stored on a storage medium, such as a
program, document, digital image, or song
– Filename
• Name given to a file by the user
– Folder
• Named place on a storage medium
into which files can be stored

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 Storage System Characteristics

– Logical file representation

• Individuals view a document stored as one complete
unit in a particular folder on a particular drive
– Physical file representation
• Computers access a particular document stored on a
storage medium using its physical location or locations

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 Storage System Characteristics

• Types of Storage Technology Used

• Magnetic (conventional hard drives)
• Optical (optical discs)
• Electrons (flash memory media)

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 Hard Drives

• Hard Drive
– Used to store most
programs and data
– Can be internal or external
– Can be encrypted
• Magnetic Hard Drives
– One or more permanently
sealed metal magnetic
disks with an access
mechanism and read/write
heads

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 Hard Drives

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 Hard Drives

• Hard disks are divided into:

– Tracks
• Concentric path on disk where data is recorded
– Sectors
• A small piece of the track
– Clusters
• One or more sectors; smallest addressable area of
a disk
– Cylinders
• Collection of tracks located in the same location on
a set of hard disk surfaces

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 Hard Drives

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 Hard Drives

• Solid State Drives (SSD(

– Use flash memory
technology
– Use less power and have
no moving parts
– Particularly appropriate for
portable computers and
mobile devices

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 Internal and External Hard Drives

• Internal hard drives

– Permanent storage devices located inside the system unit
– Removed only if a problem develops
• External hard drives
– Commonly used to transport large amounts of data from
one computer to another
– Portable external hard drives are smaller and easier to
transport
– Most connect with a USB connection although some may
be wireless

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 Internal and External Hard Drives

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 Hard Drive Speed, Disk Caching, and
Hybrid Hard Drives
• Disk access time
– Total time that it takes for a hard drive to read or write
data
– Consists of seek time, rotational delay, and data
movement time
• SSDs don’t require seek time or rotational delays
• Disk cache
– Memory used in conjunction with a magnetic hard drive to
improve system performance
– Typically consist of memory chips on a circuit board inside
the hard drive case
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 Hard Drive Speed, Disk Caching, and
Hybrid Hard Drives
• Hybrid Hard Drive
– Combination of flash
memory and magnetic
hard drive
– Uses flash memory for
cache
– Allows encryption to be
built into the drive

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 Hard Drive Partitioning and File
Systems
• Partitioning
– Divides the physical capacity of a single drive logically into
separate areas, called partitions
– Partitions function as independent hard drives
– Referred to as logical drives
– Increases efficiency (smaller drives use smaller clusters)
• Partitions used to create:
– A recovery partition
– A new logical drive for data
– A dual boot system

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 Quick Quiz

1. Of the following three options, the storage media that would likely
hold the most data is a(n) .
a. internal hard drive
b. USB flash memory drive
c. portable hard drive
2. True or False: Hard drives typically contain more than one metal
hard disk.
3. The circular rings on a magnetic disk on which data is stored are
called .

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 Quick Quiz

1. Of the following three options, the storage media that would likely
hold the most data is a(n) .
a. internal hard drive
b. USB flash memory drive
c. portable hard drive
2. True or False: Hard drives typically contain more than one metal
hard disk.
3. The circular rings on a magnetic disk on which data is stored are
called .

Answers:
1) a; 2) True; 3) tracks

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 Optical Discs and Drives

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 Optical Discs and Drives

• Optical Drives
– Three categories of discs: CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray Disc (BD)
– Can be read-only, recordable, or rewritable
– Almost always downward compatible
– Can support single or dual layer discs
– Recording data onto disc is called burning
– Can be internal or external drives
• External drives typically connect
via USB port

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 Optical Discs and Drives

• Major advantage: large capacity

– CD discs are normally single layer and hold 650 or 700 MB
– DVD discs hold 4.7 GB (single-layer) or 8.5 GB (dual-layer
– BD discs hold 25 GB (single-layer) or 50 GB (dual-layer

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 Read-Only Optical Discs

• CD ROM, DVD ROM, and BD-ROM

– Can be read from, but not written to, by the user
• CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory)
• DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc read-only memory)
• BD-ROM (Blu-Ray Disc read-only memory)
– Normally come pre-recorded
• Software programs
• Clip art and other graphics
• Music
• Movies
• Games (PlayStation, Wii, Xbox, etc.)

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 Recordable Optical Discs

• CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R, BD-R Discs

– Can be written to, but cannot be erased and reused
– No physically molded pits
– Most have a recording layer containing organic light-
sensitive dye between disc’s plastic and reflective layers
• Except the BD-R disc, which has inorganic material
– Used for backing up files, sending large files to others, and
creating custom music CDs

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 Rewritable Optical Discs

• CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and BD-RE Discs

– Can be written to, but cannot be erased and reused
• Uses phase change technology
– Heating and cooling process is used to change the
reflectivity of the disc
• Capacities are identical to the read-only and recordable
discs, except BDXL
– Appropriate for transferring large files from one computer
to another or temporarily storing TV shows

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 Quick Quiz

1. The capacity of the typical CD disc is .

a. 50 GB
b. 700 MB
c. 4.7 GB
2. True of False: A DVD-RW disc can be written to and rewritten to.
3. The tiny depressions, dark areas, or otherwise altered spots on an
optical disc that are used to represent data are called .

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 Quick Quiz

1. The capacity of the typical CD disc is .

a. 50 GB
b. 700 MB
c. 4.7 GB
2. True of False: A DVD-RW disc can be written to and rewritten to.
3. The tiny depressions, dark areas, or otherwise altered spots on an
optical disc that are used to represent data are called .

Answers:
1) b; 2) True; 3) pits

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 Trend Box

DNA Data Storage

– Possible data storage medium
• Long-term, high-density encoding
– Researchers have encoded data in DNA
• Translated into binary 0s and 1s, then to a ternary code,
and then as strings of DNA’s chemical bases and stored
in DNA
– Biggest obstacle is cost - $12,400/MB
– Biggest possibility: archiving

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 Flash Memory Storage Systems

• Flash Memory
– Chip-based storage medium that represents data using
electrons
– Used in SSDs and hybrid hard drives
• Embedded Flash Memory
– Flash memory chips embedded into products, such as
• Portable digital media players, digital cameras
• Handheld gaming devices, GPS devices, mobile phones
• Sunglasses and wristwatches

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 Flash Memory Storage Systems

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 Flash Memory Storage Systems

• Flash Memory Cards and Readers

– Flash memory card
• Small card containing one or more flash memory chips,
a controller chip, and metal contacts to connect the
card to the device or reader with which it is being used
• Available in various formats that are not
interchangeable:
CompactFlash Secure Digital (SD) xD Picture Card
Memory Stick Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)
MultiMedia Card (MMC) Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC)

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 Flash Memory Storage Systems

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 Flash Memory Storage Systems

• USB Flash Drives

– Sometimes called flash memory drives, jump drives, or
thumb drives
– Flash memory media integrated into a self-contained unit
that plug into and is powered by a USB port
– Designed to be very small and very portable
– Can include biometric features, such as a built-in
fingerprint reader

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 Flash Drive Storage Systems

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 Other Types of Storage Systems

• Network Storage and Cloud Storage Systems

– Remote storage
• Using a storage device not directly connected to the computer being used
• Accessed through the Internet or through a network

• Cloud storage (online storage)

– Accessed via the Internet
• Via Web sites (Flickr, Facebook, Google Docs, etc.)
• Via online storage sites (Box, Dropbox, etc.)
• Growing in importance because more and more applications are Web based
• Many Web sites providing online storage offer it free
• Business cloud storage is available
– Network storage
• Remote storage via local network

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 Network and Cloud Storage Systems

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 Smart Cards

• Smart Card
– Credit card-sized piece of plastic that contains some
computer circuitry (processor, memory, and storage)
– Stores small amount of data (about 64 KB or less)
– Commonly used to store prepaid amounts of digital cash or
personal information
– Smart card readers are built into or attached to a
computer, door lock, vending machine, or other device
– Some smart cards store biometric data
– Use of mobile smart cards is an emerging trend

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 Smart Cards

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 Storage Systems for Large Computer
Systems
• Storage server
– Hardware device
containing multiple
high-speed hard
drives connected to
the computer system
or network
– Most are based on
magnetic hard discs

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 Storage Systems for Large Computer
Systems
• RAID (redundant arrays of independent discs)
– Method of storing data on two or more hard drives that
work together to do the job of a larger drive
– Mostly used to protect critical data on large storage
systems
– Usually involves recording redundant copies of stored data
– Helps to increase fault tolerance

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 Storage Systems for Large Computer
Systems
• Different levels of RAID:
– RAID 0 = disk striping (spread files over two or more hard
drives)
– RAID 1 = disk mirroring (duplicate copy)
– Other level use a combination or striping and mirroring
• Drobo system
– New RAID storage system
– Much easier to use than previous
systems
– Offers continuous data redundancy

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 Storage Systems for Large Computer
Systems

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 Magnetic Tape Systems

• Magnetic Tape
– Plastic tape coated with a magnetizable substance that
represents the bits and bytes of digital data
– Primarily used for backup and archival purposes
– Sequential access only
– Low cost per terabyte
– Most tapes today are in the
form of cartridge tapes

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 Evaluating Your Storage Alternatives

• Product Characteristics to Consider:

– Speed
– Compatibility
– Storage capacity
– Convenience
– Portability
• Most Users Require:
– Hard drive
– Recordable or rewritable optical drive
– Flash memory card reader
– USB ports

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 Quick Quiz

1. An online photo sharing site is an example of .

a. RAID
b. cloud storage
c. holographic storage
2. True or False: Flash memory storage systems are called solid-
state storage systems because they are nonvolatile.
3. A type of sequential storage that sometimes used today for
backup purposes is .

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 Quick Quiz

1. An online photo sharing site is an example of .

a. RAID
b. cloud storage
c. holographic storage
2. True or False: Flash memory storage systems are called solid-
state storage systems because they are nonvolatile.
3. A type of sequential storage that sometimes used today for
backup purposes is .

Answers:
1) b; 2) False; 3) magnetic tape

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 Input and Output

Deborah Morley
Charles S. Parker Copyright 2015 CengageLearning
 Keyboards

• An input device used to enter characters at the location

marked by the insertion point or cursor
– Can be wired or wireless
– Typically contains:
• Standard alphanumeric keys
• Numeric keypad
• Function keys
• Delete and Backspace keys
• Control and Alternate keys
• Arrow directional keys and special keys

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 Keyboards

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 Keyboards

• Mobile devices often use:

– Slide-out keyboard
– Pen or touch input (on-screen keyboard)
– Keyboard dock

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 Pointing and Touch Devices

• Pointing devices are used to:

– Select and manipulate objects
– Input data
– Issue commands to the computer
• Common types of pointing devices:
– Mouse
– Pen/stylus
– Devices that use touch input

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0
 Mice

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 Trend Box

Perceptual Computing: It focuses on enabling machines to understand,

interpret, and interact with their environment by recognizing human gestures,
voice commands, facial expressions, and even emotions. The goal is to make
interactions between humans and computers more natural and intuitive,
eliminating the need for traditional input devices like keyboards and mice.
– Users control devices with 3D gestures, voice commands,
and facial expressions
– Noncontact system
– Allows for full body input and input from a slight distance
away

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 Pens/Styluses

• Stylus
– Pen-like device used to draw or write electronically on the
screen
– Also called digital pen, electronic pen, tablet pen
– Pen input is being used for:
• Photography, graphic design, animation
• Industrial design, document processing, and healthcare
applications
• Navigating through a document
• Issuing commands

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 Pens/Styluses

– Pen-Based Computers and Mobile Devices

• Pen input used with mobile devices and tablet computers
– Used to input handwritten text and sketches and to
manipulate objects
– If handwriting recognition is used, written text can be
converted to editable typed text

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 Touch Screens

• Touch Screens
– Display devices that are touched with the finger to select
commands or otherwise provide input to the computer
– Common on portable computers, smartphones, and other
mobile devices
– Multi-touch
• Can recognize input from more than one finger at a
time
– Table PC
• Large screen computer either built into a table or
designed to be used on a table
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 Touch Screens

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 How It Works Box

Augmented Reality
– Computer generated images are overlaid on top of real-
time images
– Today, most often with smartphones using camera input,
location info, and other data
– Displays appropriate information related to images
captured by the smartphone

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 Scanners

• Scanners (Optical Scanners)

– Input devices that read printed text and graphics and
transfers them to a computer in digital form
– Data is typically input as a single image
– Can scan photos, documents, images
– Types of scanners
• Flatbed
• Portable
• 3D
• Receipt and business card scanners

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 Scanners

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 Scanners

• Scanning Quality and Resolution

– Quality of scanned images
indicated by optical resolution
• Measured in number of dots
per inch (dpi)
• Can often be specified when
image is scanned
• Can be changed when
scanned image is edited
– Higher resolution means better
quality but larger file size

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 Readers

• Barcode Readers
– Input devices that read barcodes
– Machine-readable codes that represent data as
a set of bars
– Common Types
• Universal Product Code (UPC)
• ISBN
• DataBar
• QR Codes

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 Readers

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 Readers

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Devices

– OCR is the ability of a computer to recognize scanned text
characters and convert them to electronic form as text, not
images
– OCR software is used to identify each character and
convert it to editable text
– Used to process turnaround documents like monthly
bills

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 Readers

• Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) Readers

– Also called check scanners
– Used primarily for banking
– Read the special magnetic
characters printed at the
bottom of checks
– High volume readers
process deposited checks
– Used to facilitate remote
deposits and electronic check
processing

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 Readers

• Biometric Readers
– Used to input biometric data such as an individual’s
fingerprint or voice
– Can be stand-alone or built into another piece of hardware
– Most often used for
access control, to
authorize electronic
payments, log on to
secure Web sites

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 Technology and You Box

Mobile Deposits
– Mobile remote deposit
capture
– Transmit check information
via smartphone app and
camera
– App optimizes the check
front and back images and
transmits images and
deposit data to your bank

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 Digital Cameras

• Digital Cameras
– Take pictures and records them as digital images
– Can either be still cameras or video cameras
– Integrated into many portable computers and mobile
phones
• Digital Still Cameras
– Primary appeal is that images are immediately available
– Camera quality is measured in megapixels
– Typically use flash memory for storage
– Camera phones can be used to read barcodes, remotely
deposit checks, etc.
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 Digital Cameras

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 Digital Cameras

• Digital Video Cameras

– Digital camcorders, PC video cameras (PC cams, webcams)
– Built-in or stand alone
– Store images on digital media (flash memory, DVDs, hard
drives, etc.)
• Applications
– Surveillance video
cameras
– Video conferences
and Webinars
– Face recognition
systems
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 Audio Input

• Voice Input and Speech Recognition Systems

– Audio Input
• The process of entering audio data into the computer
– Voice Input
• Inputting spoken words and converting them to digital
form via microphone or headset
• Can be used for podcasts and with VoIP (Voice over IP)
systems
• Provides spoken instructions to computer when used
with speech recognition systems

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 Audio Input

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 Audio Input

• Music Input Systems

– Used to input music
• Existing music can be input
using CDs or a Web download
• For original compositions,
microphones, keyboard
controllers, and guitar
controllers can be used to
input music

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 Quick Quiz

1. Change written text to editable digital form?

a. OCR
b. MICR
c. OMR
2. True or False: Flatbed scanners can be used to scan photos, as well
as documents on conventional paper.
3. A voice input system requires software and a(n) in
order to input voice data or commands into a computer.

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 Quick Quiz

1. Change written text to editable digital form?

a. OCR
b. MICR
c. OMR
2. True or False: Flatbed scanners can be used to scan photos, as well
as documents on conventional paper.
3. A voice input system requires software and a(n) in
order to input voice data or commands into a computer.

Answers:
1) c; 2) True; 3) microphone

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 Display Devices

• Display Device
– Presents output visually on some type of screen
– Monitor
• Display device for a desktop computer
– Display Screen
• Screen built into a variety of devices
– Notebook and other portable computers
– Mobile phones and mobile devices
– Handheld gaming devices, home
entertainment devices, kitchen appliances
– Digital photo frames, e-book readers, smart
watches
– Digital signage systems, digital billboards
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 Display Devices

• Display Device Characteristics

– Color vs. Monochrome Displays
• Images are formed using
pixels
• Most displays today are
color displays
– CRT vs. Flat-Panel Displays
• Cathode ray tube (CRT)
displays: large, bulky, and
heavy
• Flat-panel displays: take up
less desk space; use less
power
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 Display Devices

• Size and Aspect Ratio

– Device size measured diagonally from corner to corner
• Screen Resolution
– Number of pixels used on a display determines resolution
– Affects the amount of information that can be displayed
on the screen at one time
– Can be changed to match users’ preference

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 Display Devices

• Video Adapters, Interfaces, and Ports

– Video cards determine the graphic capabilities of a
computer
– VGA, DVI, and HDMI are the three most common
interfaces to connect monitors to a computer
– Ports exposed in the system unit cases are to connect
monitors to computers
• New option is to use USB
ports

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 Display Devices

• Wired vs. Wireless Displays

– Wired display are physically connected to the system via a
cable
– Wireless displays connect using a wireless network
connection (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth)
• 2D vs. 3D Displays
– Most displays are 2D
– 3D displays use filters, prisms, and multiple lenses to
create the 3D effects

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 Display Devices

• Wearable Displays
– Project images from a mobile
device to a display screen
built into glasses
• Touch and Gesture Capabilities
– Kiosks and portable gaming
devices
– Mobile phones and media
tablets

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 Data and Multimedia Projectors

• Display output from a computer to a wall or projection screen

• Found in classrooms and conference rooms
• Can be wireless or integrated into devices
• Some contain an iPod dock
• Pico projectors are pocket-size and connect mobile and
portable devices
• Hologram projectors used to display 3D images
• 3D projectors are designed to project 3D images that are
viewed with 3D glasses

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 Data and Multimedia Projectors

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 Printers

• Print Resolution
– Measured in dpi (dots per inch)
– More dots per inch results in higher quality output
– 300 dpi for general purpose printing; 1,200 dpi for
photographs; 2,400 dpi for professional applications
• Print Speed
– Measured in pages per minute (PPM)
– Range from about 15 to 65 ppm

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 Printers

• Personal vs. Network Printers

– Personal printers connect directly to a single computer
– Network printers connect directly to a home or an office
network; some can perform cloud printing
– Connection Options
• USB connection most com mon
• Multifunction Capabilities
– Copy, fax, scan, print
– All-in-ones

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 Laser Printers

• Use toner powder and technology similar to that of a

photocopier to produce images on paper
• The standard for business documents
• Print one entire page at a time
• Generally faster and have better quality output than ink-jet
printers
• Can be black and white or color
• Common print resolution for laser printers is between 600
and 2,400 dpi
• Use toner cartridges

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 Ink-Jet Printers

• Sprays droplets of ink to produce images on paper

• Use ink cartridges
• Usually print in color
• Often the choice for home use
• Relatively inexpensive with good-quality output
• Print more slowly than laser printers

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 Ink-Jet Printers

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 Special Purpose Printers

• Barcode, label, and postage

printers
• Photo printers
• Portable and integrated printers
• Wide-format ink-jet printers
• 3D printers

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 Audio Output

• Audio Output
– Voice, music, and other audible sounds
– Common audio output devices
• Computer speakers
• Headphones and headsets
• Earphones and earbuds

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 Quick Quiz

1. Which of the following types of display devices should have

the largest footprint (the amount of room taken up on a
desk)?
a. CRT monitor
b. OLED display
c. LCD display
2. True or False: Laser printers can only print in black and white.
3. printers form images with drops of liquid ink.

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 Quick Quiz

1. Which of the following types of display devices should have

the largest footprint (the amount of room taken up on a
desk)?
a. CRT monitor
b. OLED display
c. LCD display
2. True or False: Laser printers can only print in black and white.
3. printers form images with drops of liquid ink.

Answers:
1) a; 2) False; 3) Ink-jet printers

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