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UNIT 6
External storage devices
5 1 What do external and internal storage devices have in common?
2 What are the differences between them?
In addition to storage media contained within a computer, there are also digital storage
devices that are external from computers. These are commonly used to expand storage
10 capacity on a computer, allow more portability, or provide easy file transfers from one
device to another.
External HDDs and SSDs You can get both HDD and SSD devices as external drives. These
generally offer the largest storage capacity among external options, with external HDDs
offering up to 20 TB of storage and (reasonably priced) external SSDs offering up to 8 TB of
15 storage. External HDDs and SSDs work in the exact same way that their internal
counterparts do. Most external drives can connect to any computer; they’re not tied to one
device, so they’re a decent solution for transferring files across devices.
Optical storage devices
Another common type of storage was optical storage, which uses lasers and lights as its
20 method of reading and writing data.
Note: disc (optical storage
media); disk (magnetic storage media)
1 Read the text and answer the following questions:
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1 How is data saved and retrieved in optical storage devices?
2 Where is data stored on the disc surface? Compare it with the disk surface.
3 What represents binary 1 on the disc surface? Compare it with the disk surface.
30 Optical Storage Device – uses lasers and lights as its mode of saving and retrieving data.
Binary data is stored as changes to the texture of the disc’s surface, microscopic pits
(hollows) and lands (flat areas).
Optical devices use a laser to scan the surface of a spinning disc
made from metal and plastic. The disc surface is divided into
35 tracks, with each track containing many flat areas and hollows.
The flat areas are known as lands and the hollows as pits.
When the laser shines on the disc surface, lands reflect the light
back, whereas pits scatter the laser beam. A sensor looks for the
reflected light. Reflected light - land - represents a binary '1', and no reflection - pits -
40 represents a binary '0'.
There are different types of optical media (compact discs):
CD-ROM (read-only-memory) media have data pre-written on them. The data
cannot be overwritten. Music, films, software and games are often distributed this
way.
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45 CD-R (recordable) media are blank. An optical device writes data to them by shining
a laser onto the disc. The laser burns pits to represent '0's. The media can only be
written to once but read many times. Copies of data are often made using these
media.
CD-RW (rewritable) works in a similar way to R, except that the disc can be written
50 to more than once.
Flash memory
Flash Memory – Flash memory is a type of electronically
55 erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),
solid-state chips that retain information without requiring
external power source. It enables easy access for users to
erase and reprogram data. It is used in a wide range of
devices including SD cards and USB sticks, as well as more
60 specialised industrial applications, and to replace
computer hard drives. Needing no batteries or other
power to retain data, flash is convenient and relatively foolproof.
Types of flash memory: NOR and NAND.
65 NOR flash provides high-speed random access, reading and writing data in specific memory
locations. NOR is used to store cell phones operating systems; it is also used in computers
for the BIOS program that runs at start-up.
NAND flash reads and writes sequentially at high speed, handling data in small blocks called
pages. This flash is used in solid-state and USB flash drives, digital cameras, audio and video
70 players, and TV set-top boxes. NAND flash reads faster than it writes, quickly transferring
whole pages of data.
They’re more expensive per gigabyte than an external hard drive, but they have prevailed as
a simple, convenient solution for storing and transferring smaller files. Aside from USB
drives, flash memory devices also include SD and memory cards, which you’ll recognize as
75 the storage medium used in digital cameras.
foolproof - reliable as to leave no opportunity for error, misuse, or failure.
2 Comprehension check
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1 What 3 features of flash memory do the words in the acronym EEPROM describe?
2 What makes it convenient and foolproof?
3 How do NOR and NAND handle reading and writing data.
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Types of Flash Memory Devices
A flash memory device contains trillions of interconnected flash memory cells that store
data. These cells hold millions of transistors that when switched on or off represent 1s and
90 0s in binary code, allowing a computer to read and write information.
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A flash memory stick is designed to plug into the USB drive of various devices including PCs
and smart TVs. They act as external, removable storage devices.
95 A flash memory card is a removable, transferable method of memory storage. It is designed
to increase the memory capacity of the item it is plugged into (digital camera, mobile phone,
etc.) and is available in various sizes.
How Long Can Flash Memory Store Data?
100 Although this will depend on the conditions of use, most modern flash memory is designed
to store data for an average of ten years. This provides a reliable system for storing data
over the mid-term.
3 True or false
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1. Flash memory requires an external power source to retain
information. (True/False)
2. Flash memory devices contain interconnected flash memory cells
that store data using transistors to represent binary code.
110 (True/False)
3. NAND flash is commonly used in devices like USB drives and SSDs,
while NOR flash is used in applications such as firmware storage in
embedded systems. (True/False)
4. Flash memory is typically less expensive per gigabyte than an
115 external hard drive. (True/False)
5. SD and memory cards, along with USB drives, are examples of flash
memory devices used in digital cameras. (True/False)
120 Who Invented Flash Memory?
Flash memory was invented in the 1980s by an engineer named Masuoka Fujio in
partnership with leading brand Toshiba. Fujio and his team named the technology “flash
memory”, as they likened the speedy erasure of data on a flash memory device.
The technology was created to enable data to be stored even when the device was
125 disconnected from a separate source of power. Flash memory has gone from strength to
strength ever since, and today, it is one of the most popular storage solutions for a range of
applications, industries, and domestic goods.
Devices that use flash memory are in widespread use, thanks to the versatility of the
technology. Just some examples of devices that use flash memory include:
130 Mobile phones, PCs and laptops, Digital cameras, Smart TVs, GPS systems, Security systems,
Communications and networking, SSD drives…
Advantages
o Affordable and cost-efficient
135 o Fast
o High capacity
o Typically, stable
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Disadvantages
140 o Quality may degrade over prolonged periods
o Limitations with rewriting data
4 Guessing the meaning – find out what the following expressions in the text above say
about flash memory.
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1 In a flash
a instantaneously or quickly
b gradually over time
c unexpectedly
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2 Go from strength to strength
a struggle with challenges
b experience continuous improvement or success
c stay stagnant in progress
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3 A range of
a a specific set of items
b a variety of options
c a single limited selection
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4 Versatility
a rigidity and lack of adaptability
b specialized in particular skill
c the ability to adapt and be flexible
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5 In economic discussions, what role does the term industry play
a primarily refers to individual businesses
b encompasses all economic activities including service and manufacturing
c exclusively relates to technological advancements
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Cloud storage
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https://computer.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing/cloud-storage.htm
5 Complete the text about cloud storage with the words from the box
downloaded network server computers uploaded software
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internet-based internet online remote resources
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Storing data at a 1 ________ location 2_________ is known as cloud storage. When files and
data are sent to the cloud, they are actually 3_________ to a 4 _________ that is connected
to the 5_________. A server is a 6 _________ or system that provides 7______, data,
190 services, or programs to other 8_________, known as clients, over an
9___________connection. Files can be uploaded to a folder system and 10_________ as
required. In recent years, the cloud has also become a term for online _________facilities.
195 Cloud storage has many advantages:
data can easily be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
the business running the cloud storage service manages backups and security.
additional storage can be added easily without having to invest in additional hardware.
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However, cloud storage also has a number of disadvantages associated with it:
if you can access your data from anywhere with an internet connection, then a hacker can
potentially do the same.
you are relying on other people to correctly secure your data and keep backups.
205 you don’t know if employees of the cloud service will have access to your data.
