Storage

StorageUnit 1 – Understanding Computer Systems

JMW 2012

Get your brains logged on!

Put these terms in order (smallest to largest):

A. TerabyteB. MegabyteC. BitD. GigabyteE. ByteF. Kilobyte

Get your brains logged on!

Put these terms in order (smallest to largest):

C. Bit 1 bitE. Byte 8 bitsF. Kilobyte 1000 bytesB. Megabyte 1000 kilobytesE. Gigabyte 1000 megabytesA. Terabyte 1000 gigabytes

By the end of this lesson:

• All of you would be aware of the units used to measure storage on a computer.

• Most of you should be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of the main storage technologies.

• A few of you could consider the impact of cloud storage on the way people store data.

YOUR TASK: Find out the following foreach of the above storage technologies :

a) How is data stored?b) Provide some examples of storage devices that use that

technology, e.g. CD for Optical.c) What are the advantages of that storage technology?d) What are the disadvantages of that storage technology?

Different storage technologies

Optical Magnetic Flash (Solid State)

Optical

Advantages: Disadvantages:

How does it work? Examples of optical devices:

Optical

CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs (all optical media) contain small “bumps” that you can’t feel with your finger but can be picked up by the laser.

When the laser hits a bump it bounces into the optical pickup and this is converted into a digital signal – like the turning the light on and off.Optical discs are very cheap and quick to produce but can be easily

damaged/scratched.

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Magnetic

Advantages: Disadvantages:

How does it work? Examples of magnetic devices:

Magnetic

Similar to an optical drive, the drive head moves across the spinning magnetic disk, but instead of bumps it picks up small changes in polarity.

Hard drives can contains lots of data (large capacity) and quite cheap to buy. However, when the a hard drive crashes that means the head has literally

crashed into the spinning disk – easy to damage, especially when you drop in!

Drive read/write head

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Other examples of magnetic media are:

Floppy Disk

Digital Tape (very cheap and large capacity)

Flash (Solid State)

Advantages: Disadvantages:

How does it work? Examples of solid state devices:

Flash (Solid State)

• Unlike optical or magnetic – there are no moving parts… more reliable.

• Can be smaller, faster, more portable and use less energy… but can also be more expensive!

The iPhone uses flash memory instead of a magnetic hard drive.

Cloud Storage

• Cloud storage is when you store data online on a remote computer and access it via the Internet.

• Web-based mail is a form of Cloud storage as your emails are stored on the mail provider’s website.

• Facebook or Flickr are forms of Cloud storage as they store images that you have uploaded.

Your Task: Which technology?

• Go to Studentshare > Subjects > ICT > Y9 > Unit 1 > Which Storage Exercise.

• Use the information from your research and the information your teacher has provided to answer the questions.

• This powerpoint is available in the same folder if you need to refer back to it.

Cloud Storage

• Can you think of the advantages of using cloud storage?– Why do people use it?– What are the benefits of storing data online?

• Can you think of any disadvantages of using cloud storage?– What are the risks?– What do we need to be careful of?

Cloud Storage• Accessible on any computer with Internet access (anywhere in the

world!)• Cloud provider will take care of backing up your files for you.• Easier and quicker to share files with other people.• Easier to sync with other devices you may own, e.g. iCloud makes it

easier for your iPad, iPhone and mac to share files.

• Security - anyone could access your data if they hacked your password or the system.

• Could lose files if cloud provider’s computers failed and backups didn’t work – unlikely as if this ever did happen the company would never be trusted again and would go bust!

• Need good Internet connection to download/upload files, especially photos, videos and music.

• Cost – is it free or it there a monthly charge for storage?

Knowledge Check

1) What type of storage technology does a blu-ray disc use?

A) OpticalB) MagneticC) Solid-state (Flash)

Knowledge Check

3) Which storage technology would you recommend for a smartphone?

A) OpticalB) Solid-state (Flash)C) Magnetic

Knowledge Check

3) Which one of these advantages of magnetic storage technology is the ODD ONE OUT?

A) Large capacityB) No moving partsC) Cheap