IGCSE ICT Storage devices and media 0417

Unit 3 – Storage Media and Devices

 When we talk about ‘storing’ data, we mean putting the data in a known place. We can later come
back to that place and get our data back again.
 ‘Writing’ data or ‘saving’ data are other ways of saying ‘storing’ data.
 ‘Reading’ data, ‘retrieving’ data or ‘opening’ a file are ways of saying that we are getting our data
back from its storage location.

Main Memory
 Main memory (sometimes known as internal memory or primary storage) is another name for
RAM (and ROM).
 Main memory is usually used to store data temporarily. In the case of RAM, it is volatile (this
means that when power is switched off all of the data in the memory disappears).
 Main memory is used to store data whilst it is being processed by the CPU. Data can be put into
memory, and read back from it, very quickly.
 Memory is fast to access, but only holds data temporarily...

Backing Storage
 Backing storage (sometimes known as secondary storage) is the name for all other data storage
devices in a computer: hard-drive, etc.
 Backing storage is usually non-volatile, so it is generally used to store data for a long time.

Storage Media & Devices

 The device that actually holds the data is known as the storage medium (‘media’ is the plural).
 The device that saves data onto the storage medium, or reads data from it, is known as the storage
device.
 Sometimes the storage medium is a fixed (permanent) part of the storage device, e.g. the magnetic
coated discs built into a hard drive
 Sometimes the storage medium is removable from the device, e.g. a CD-ROM can be taken out of a
CD drive.

Accessing Stored Data

 We refer to a collection of data stored in a computer system as a ‘file’. Files are often
organized into ‘folders’.
 Whenever you click ‘Save’ in an application, burn files to a CD-R, copy music onto your
MP3 player, or drag and drop a file onto memory stick, you are using storage devices -
devices that can store and retrieve data.
Serial / Sequential Access
 A serial (or sequential) access storage device is one that stores files one-by-one in a sequence.
 A non-computer serial access device that will be familiar to you is a VHS videotape. Because video
is stored on a long piece of tape, when TV shows are recorded onto the tape, they go on one-by-one,
in order...
 If you want to watch a show that you recorded earlier, you have to rewind / fast-forward through
all other shows until you find it.
 The shows are only accessible in the same order that you recorded them. This type of one-by-one
storage and access is called serial access.
Direct / Random Access
 A storage device that stores files so that they can be instantly accessed - there is no need to search
through other files to get to the one you want.
 All parts of the DVD are directly accessible. This type of file storage is called direct access.
 And modern hard drives can store a terabyte of data or more - that's more words than you could type
even if you started now, and typed until your old age!

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Data Access Speeds
 Note: Modern back-up tapes have very fast access speeds, but only to save/read data sequentially
(they are serial access devices). Tapes are very slow if you want to read files out of order, since the
tape has to be rewound and fast-forwarded.
 Access speeds are measured in bytes per second (Bps).
 Slow devices have speeds measured in thousands of Bps (kBps).
 Fast devices have speeds measured in millions of Bps (MBps).
E.g. a hard-drive can save/read data at a speed of 300MBps
Magnetic Storage Devices / Media
 Magnetic storage media and devices store data in the form of tiny magnetised dots. These dots are
created, read and erased using magnetic fields created by very tiny electromagnets.
 In the case of magnetic tape the dots are arranged along the length of a long plastic strip which has
been coated with a magnetisable layer (audio and video tapes use a similar technology).
 In the case of magnetic discs (e.g. floppy disc or hard-drive), the dots are arranged in circles on the
surface of a plastic, metal or glass disc that has a magnetisable coating.
Hard Drives
 Hard-drives have a very large storage capacity (up to 1TB). They can be used to store vast amounts
of data. Hard-drives are random access devices and can be used to store all types of films, including
huge files such as movies. Data access speeds are very fast.
 Data is stored inside a hard-drive on rotating metal or glass discs (called ‘platters’).
Fixed Hard Drive
 A hard-drive built into the case of a computer is known as ‘fixed’. Almost every computer has a
fixed hard-drive.
 Fixed hard-drives act as the main backing storage device for almost all computers since they
provide almost instant access to files (random access and high access speeds).
Portable Hard Drive
 A portable hard-drive is one that is placed into a small case along with some electronics that allow
the hard-drive to be accessed using a USB or similar connection.
 Portable hard-drives allow very large amounts of data to be transported from computer to
computer.
 Many portable music players (such as the iPod classic) contain tiny hard-drives. These miniature
devices are just not much bigger than a stamp, but can still store over 100MB of data!
Magnetic Tape
 Magnetic tape is a large capacity, serial access medium. Because it is a serial access medium,
accessing individual files on a tape is slow.
 Tapes are used where large amounts of data need to be stored, but where quick access to
individual files is not required. A typical use is for data back-up (lots of data, but rarely only
accessed in an emergency)
 Tapes are also used and in some batch-processing applications (e.g. to hold the list of data that will
be processed).

Optical Storage Devices / Media

 Optical storage devices save data as patterns of dots that can be read using light. A laser beam is
the usual light source.
 The data on the storage medium is read by bouncing the laser beam off the surface of the medium. If
the beam hits a dot it is reflected back differently to how it would be if there were no dot. This
difference can be detected, so the data can be read.
 Dots can be created using the laser beam (for media that is writable such as CD-Rs). The beam is
used in a high-power mode to actually mark the surface of the medium, making a dot. This process is
known as ‘burning’ data onto a disc.

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Read-Only Optical Discs – they have data written onto them when they are manufactured. This data
cannot be changed.
 CD-ROM- Compact Disc - Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) discs can hold around 800MB of data.
The data cannot be altered (non-volatile), so cannot be accidently deleted. CD-ROMs are random-
access devices.
CD-ROMs are used to distribute all sorts of data: software (e.g. office applications or games), music,
electronic books (e.g. an encyclopaedia with sound and video.)
 DVD-ROM - Digital Versatile Disc - Read-Only Memory (DVD-ROM) discs can hold around
4.7GB of data (a dual-layer DVD can hold twice that). DVD-ROMs are random-access devices.
DVD-ROMs are used in the same way as CD-ROMs (see above) but, since they can hold more data,
they are also used to store high-quality video.
High Capacity Optical Discs
 Blu-Ray - Blu-Ray disks are a recent replacement for DVDs. A Blu-Ray disc can hold 25 - 50GB
of data (a dual-layer Blu-Ray disc can hold twice that). They use random-access devices. Blu-Ray
discs are used in the same way as DVD-ROMs (see above) but, since they can hold more data, they
are also used to store very high-quality, high-definition(HD) video.
 HD DVD - High-density DVD (HD-DVD) discs can hold around 15GB of data (a dual-layer HD-
DVD can hold twice that). HD-DVDs are random-access devices.
HD-DVD discs are used in the same way as DVD-ROMs (see above) but, since they can hold more
data, they are also used to store very high-quality, high-definition (HD) video.

Recordable Optical Discs - Recordable optical discs can have data written onto them (‘burnt’) by a
computer user using a special disc drive (a disc ‘burner’).
 CD-R and DVD-R - CD-Recordable (CD-R) and DVD-recordable (DVD-R) discs can have data
burnt onto them, but not erased. You can keep adding data until the disc is full, but you cannot
remove any data or re-use a full disc.
 CD-RW and DVD-RW - CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) and DVD-Rewritable (DVD-RW) discs, unlike
CD-Rs and DVD-Rs, can have data burnt onto them and also erased so that the discs can be re-
used.
 When CD-Rs and DVD-Rs are burnt, the laser makes permanent marks on the silver-coloured metal
layer. This is why these discs cannot be erased.
 When CD-RWs and DVD-RWs are burnt the laser makes marks on the metal layer, but in a way that
can be undone. So these discs can be erased.

DVD-RAM
 DVD-Random Access Memory (DVD-RAM) discs are a type of re-writable DVD. They often
come in a floppy-disc style case (to protect the disc).
 DVD-RAM discs have a similar capacity to a normal DVD, holding 4.7GB of data. DVD-RAM
discs are random-access devices.
 DVD-RAM discs are used in many camcorders (video recording cameras).
 The discs are much higher quality than normal DVD-RWs and can reliably store data for up to 30
years. This means that they are often used for video and data back-up and archiving.
Solid-State Storage Devices -
 The term ‘solid-state’ essentially means ‘no moving parts’.
 Solid-state storage devices are based on electronic circuits with no moving parts (no reels of tape,
no spinning discs, no laser beams, etc.)
 Solid-state storage devices store data using a special type of memory called flash memory...
Flash Memory
 It is an Electronically-Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM). It is non-volatile
but the data stored in it can also be erased or changed.
 Saving data to flash memory is very slow compared to saving it to RAM. If a computer were to use
flash memory as a replacement for RAM it would run very slowly. Also, some portable computers
are starting to use flash memory in the form of solid-state ‘discs’ as a replacement for hard-drives.
No moving parts mean less to go wrong and longer battery life.

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USB Memory Sticks
 Memory sticks have made many other forms of portable storage. They are non-volatile, random-
access storage devices. Each of these small devices has some flash memory connected to a USB
interface. Plug it into your computer and it appears as a drive. You can then add files, erase files,
etc. You can use it to move any type of file between computers.
 Flash memory is expensive than a CD-R or CD-RW. And it has more storage capacity. It has both
read-write facility.
Memory Cards
 Many of our digital devices (cameras, mobile phones, MP3 players, etc.) require compact, non-
volatile data storage. Flash memory cards provide this and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
 One of the most common formats used by digital cameras is the SD Card. The cards store the digital
images taken by the camera.
 Mobile phones contain a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that contains the phone’s number,
the phonebook numbers, text messages, etc.
 Many phones also have extra memory cards to store music, video, photos, etc. (e.g Tiny Micro-SD
cards).
Smart Cards
 Many credit cards (e.g. ‘chip-and-pin’ cards), door entry cards, satellite TV cards, etc. have
replaced the very limited storage of the magnetic strip (the dark strip on the back of older cards) with
flash memory. This is more reliable and has a much larger storage capacity.
 Cards with flash memory are called smart cards
Backing Up Data
 A backup simply means making one or more copies of your data.
 For example, if you have a folder of photos stored on the hard-drive of your laptop, you might back
them up by copying them to a CD-R.
Why Backup Your Data?
 If you delete a file by accident, your computer breaks, your laptop is stolen, or your business burns
to the ground, having a backup copy means that you have not lost your precious data. You can
recover your lost files and continue working.
 Most businesses use computers to store very important data (customer records, financial information,
designs for products, etc.) If this data is lost, the business could possibly have to close. Backing-up
business data is essential.

How Are Backups Created?

Personal backups of the data on your hard-drive can be made by…
 Burning files to a CD-R
 Copying files to an external hard-drive
 Copying the files to another computer on a network
Businesses backup essential data by…
 Making copies of data very regularly
 Using large-capacity media such as magnetic tape
 Keeping old copies of backups, just in case
 Automating the system so that nobody forgets to do it!
 Keeping backup media off-site (in case of fire or theft)
Revision Questions:
1. Students can use CDs or pen drives for storing their work. Give three reasons why students may prefer to
use pen drives.
2. Circle three advantages of using computers, rather than students, to control the growing conditions.
a) Computer readings are more accurate
b) Students always forget to take readings
c) Students might be unavailable to take readings during school holidays
d) Computers can record data for later use
e) Computers can analyse the results
f) Computers can react to changes in the conditions immediately

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3. Circle three reasons why optical media may be used to store data rather than magnetic media.
a) It is easier to transfer data to other computers using optical media rather than fixed hard discs
b) Optical media are cheaper to buy than magnetic media
c) A CD stores more data than a fixed hard disk
d) Data is easier to encrypt on optical media
e) Optical media provide quicker access to individual data items than magnetic tape
f) CD ROMs are easier to update than magnetic media

4. A student wishes to store data on an optical storage medium. List two optical media and give one
advantage and one disadvantage of using optical media when compared with fixed hard discs.
5. The main memory in computers is becoming very large. Give three reasons why backing storage is still
needed.
6. Susan uses a memory stick to transfer her work from school to home. Give three reasons why memory
sticks are often preferred to CDs for storing work.
7. Fill in the blanks with suitable storage devices.
a) Making backups of a file server / network server …………………………………………..
b) Transferring a file from one computer to another …………………………………………..
c) Storing software sold by a company …………………………………………..
d) Storing data which needs to be accessed quickly …………………………………………..
e) Storing photographs in a digital camera …………………………………………..
f) The part of a bank card that stores data about the PIN is a ……………………………..
g) An optical disc which can have data updated is a ……………………………………..
h) Details of a product are scanned at a POS using a …………………………………
i) Videos produced so that data cannot be changed are stored on a ………………………..

8. Computers are used to manage data in schools. Name the different methods used to input personal data
about students and their attendance and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these.
Methods :
 Type in/use keyboard
 Use touch screen
 Scan Bar code/use bar code reader
 Swipe Magnetic stripe/magnetic stripe reader
 Use biometric methods
 OMR
 Chip reader
Advantages / disadvantages
 Magnetic stripe quicker than keying in
 Bar codes more accurate than keying in
 Magnetic stripe more accurate than keying in
 Keyboard entry more robust than bar codes
 Keyboard can be used to enter additional data unlike bar code reader
 Magnetic stripe more robust than bar codes
 Biometric methods difficult to forge
 Biometric methods more accurate than other methods

9. Describe two uses of optical media and for each one give a reason why optical media are preferred to
magnetic tapes for that use.

10. Explain what pin pad and chip readers are and say how they are used.
Ans: System used to read bank/credit cards at ATM or EFTPOS systems. PIN is typed in using PIN
PAD & the Details on chip are read by chip reader

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