Chapter 8

Digital Storage: Preserving Content Locally and on the Cloud

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Objectives

• storage devices vs. storage media

• Storage characteristics
• magnetic storage
• Optical storage
• Flash memory storage
• Cloud storage
• Other storage devices

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Storage
• Storage holds data, programs, applications, and information for
future use

• The physical material that actually holds data is called a storage

medium. The surface of a floppy disk is a storage medium.

• The hardware that writes data to or reads data from a storage

medium is called a storage device. A floppy disk drive is a storage
device.

• The storage technologies are magnetic , optical , flash memory

storage and cloud storage .
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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Storage

Reading is the process

of transferring items
from a storage
medium into memory

Writing is the process

of transferring items
from memory to a
storage medium
Page 354 4
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Storage

Pages 352 – 353 5

Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-1
Storage

• Capacity is the number of bytes(characters) a

storage medium can hold

Page 354 6
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-2
Storage

• Access time measures:

– The amount of time it
takes a storage device to
locate an item on a
storage medium
– The time required to
deliver an item from
memory to the
processor

Page 355 7
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-4
Magnetic Storage Devices -Hard Disks

• A hard disk contains one or more inflexible, circular platters

that use magnetic particles to store data, instructions, and
information

Page 355 8
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-5
Magnetic Storage Devices -Hard Disks

• Hard disks can store

data using longitudinal
recording or
perpendicular recording
• Perpendicular recording
has 10 times more
storage capacity than
longitudinal recording.

Page 356 9
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-6
Hard Disks

• Characteristics of a hard disk

include:
Read/Write
Capacity Platters
Heads

Sectors and Revolutions

Cylinders
Tracks per Minute

Transfer
Access Time
Rate

Page 357 10
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-8
Hard Disks

• Formatting is the process of dividing the disk into tracks

and sectors so that the operating system can store and
locate data and information on the disk

Page 357 11
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-7
Page 358 12
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-9
Hard Disks

• The hard disk arms

move the read/write
head, which reads items
and writes items in the
drive
– Location often is referred
to by its cylinder

Page 358 13
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-10
Hard Disks

• A head crash occurs when a read/write head

touches the surface of a platter
• Always keep a backup of your hard disk

Pages 358 – 359 14

Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-11
Hard Disks – other categories

An external hard disk is a separate free-

standing hard disk that connects to your
computer with a cable or wirelessly

A removable hard disk is a hard disk that you

insert and remove from a drive

The transfer rate of external and removable

hard disks usually is slower than that of internal
hard disks but they offer greater advantages
Pages 360 – 361 15
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figures 7-14 – 7-15
RAID

• RAID (Redundant array of independent disks) is a

hard drive configuration that connects multiple
smaller hard disks or SSDs into a single unit that
acts like a single large hard drive.

• A group of two or more integrated hard drives is

called a RAID

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Flash Memory Storage

• Flash memory chips are a type of solid state

media and contain no moving parts
• Solid state drives (SSDs) have several advantages
over magnetic hard disks:

Generate less heat and

Faster access time Faster transfer rates Last longer
consume less power

Pages 362 - 363 17

Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Flash Memory Storage

Page 363 18
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-17
Flash Memory Storage
• Besides SSDs, two other widely used types of flash
memory storage include memory cards and USB
Flash drives. Both are portable devices.

• A memory card is a removable flash memory

device that you insert and remove from a slot in a
computer, mobile device, or card reader/writer

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Pages 364 – 365 20
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figures 7-18 – 7-19
Flash Memory Storage

• USB flash drives plug into a USB port on a

computer or mobile device

Page 367 21
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-21
Cloud Storage

• Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides

storage to computer or mobile users.

• It is available for home and business users with

various levels of storage services available.
Storage fee arrangements vary.

Page 368 22
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-23
Cloud Storage

Page 368 23
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-24
Cloud Storage

• Users subscribe to cloud storage for a variety of

reasons:
Access files from any computer

Store large files instantaneously

Allow others to access their files

View time-critical data and images immediately

Store offsite backups

Provide data center functions

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Optical Discs

• An optical disc consists of a flat, round, portable

disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is
written and read by a laser
• Typically store software, data, digital photos,
movies, and audio
• Read only vs. rewritable

Page 370 25
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-25
Optical Discs

• Optical discs commonly

store items in a single
track that spirals from
the center of the disc to
the edge of the disk
• Track is divided into
evenly sized sectors on
which items are stored

Page 371 26
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-27
Optical Discs

• Care of optical discs

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-28
Optical Discs

A CD-ROM can be read from but not written to

• Read from a CD-ROM drive or CD-ROM player

A CD-R is a multisession optical disc on which

users can write, but not erase

A CD-RW is an erasable multisession disc

• Must have a CD-RW drive

Pages 372 – 373 28

Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-29
Optical Discs

A DVD-ROM is a high-capacity optical disc on

which users can read but not write or erase
• Requires a DVD-ROM drive

A Blu-ray Disc-ROM (BD-ROM) has a storage

capacity of 100 GB

DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD+RAM are high-

capacity rewritable DVD formats

Pages 375 – 376 29

Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-29
Optical Discs

• Burning is the process of writing on a optical disc.

Some Operating systems (such as Windows)
include the capability of burning discs)
• Ripping is the process of copying audio/video data
from a purchased disc and saving it on digital
media
• Archive discs/Picture CDs are used to preserve
digital photos

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Other Types of Storage

Magnetic stripe
RFID Tags cards and smart
cards

Enterprise storage

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Other Types of Storage

• A magnetic stripe card

contains a magnetic
stripe that stores
information about the
card and its holder
• A smart card stores
data on a thin
microprocessor
embedded in the card

Page 377 32
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-36
Other Types of Storage

• Enterprise storage stores huge volumes of data

and information for large businesses
– Uses special hardware for heavy use, maximum
availability, and maximum efficiency

Page 379 33
Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8
Figure 7-39
RFID Tags
• RFID technology uses radio signals to communicate with a tag
placed in or attached to an object, animal or person.
• RFID tag consists of an antenna and a memory chip that contains
the information to be transmitted via radio waves.
• Active and Passive RFID Tags

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Discovering Computers 2023: Chapter 8