Storage

Devices
In this section, fill in the information below about each method of storage. Include relevant diagrams under each
heading. Delete this red text when youre done.

Magnetic Storage
Definition/Characteristics: computer data that consists solely of 0s and 1s
How it works: manipulating magnetically sensitive particles using an electro magnet
Examples of Devices/Media: hard drive disks

Solid State
Definition/Characteristics: A device with no solid parts uses non-volatile memory chips
How it works: uses non-volatile memory chips.
Examples of Devices/Media: USB, SD cards.

Optical
Definition/Characteristics: An optical device is where a laser beam is used to read the disk
How it works: uses A laser beam
Examples of Devices/Media: CDs or DVD

Advantages and Disadvantages

Fill in the table below. Use the internet to help you. Delete this red text when youre done.
Type of Storage

Typical Size

Uses

Advantages

Disadvantages

Small. Between 1
to 4 terabits

Holds more disks

and is faster than
a floppy disk.
Permanently
store data

Extremely cheap
and large
amounts of
storage.

But can be
damaged easily
because it has
moving parts

Small.

Used for personal

backup

Large amounts of
portable storage

Very slow and

prone to damage
because nit has
moving parts

Hard Disk Drive

Portable HDD

1-2 terabits

Very small
Magnetic Tape

Memory Stick

Server backup

Because it is small
it is easy to
transport and
large amounts of
storage

Can be quite slow

to access data

Small 32-64
gigabits

Storage media to
transport data

Small sized,
portability, large
capacity

Easily lost
because of their
size and data can
be corrupted

32 gigabits

Storing data in
digital camera
mobile phones
and tablet
computers

Small sized,
portability, large
capacity

Easily lost
because of their
size and data can
be corrupted

6 terabits

Flash memory
card

Storage Methods
Youve looked a lot at storage methods and what storage devices are used for. But you havent looked at how the
data is actually stored and accessed on a device.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is SEQUENTIAL storage/Access? A class of data storage devices that reads their data in sequence they
are usually a form of magnetic storage.
2. Give one storage device/media that uses the sequential method of file storage. Magnetic tape
3. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of sequential method of file storage. An advantage is that it uses
the disk efficiently. A disadvantage is that it only allows sequential access.

4. What is Random Access? This is the process of transferring information to or from memory where every
memory location can be accessed directly instead of being accessed in a first sequence
5. Give one storage device/media that uses the Random Access method of storage. Hard drive disk
6. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of the Random Access method of storage. An advantage is that
they are silent and a disadvantage is that their cost is high.

Backup
What is the definition of Backup? An exact copy of Data stored externally to the original.

What is the difference between Backup and Backing Storage? A backup is a secondary copy of the original but
backing storage is used to store file backups.

Give two reasons why backups should be used/made. In case of data loss so that you have a exact copy of the
original so you do not have to spend money and time into making another. Backups are easier than doing the whole
process again.