BACKING

STORAGE MEDIA
YEAR 12 ICT

AREEJ / MEERA / BILAL

Magnetic backing storage media

Fixed hard disc:
Direct/random access
Uses:
stores operating systems, software and working data
for online and real-time processes
file servers for computer networks
Advantage: fast access to date Disadvantage: not portable
Portable hard disc:
Direct/random access
Uses:
Store large files which need transporting to different medias
Advantage: portable/large capacity Disadvantage: relatively expensive
Magnetic tape:
Serial/sequential access
Uses:
Backups of files servers for computer networks
Various batch processing applications: payroll processing/reading bank
cheques etc
Advantage: large storage capacity Disadvantage: slower speed

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.

01

Optical backing storage media

CD & DVD:
CDs: store large files smaller than 1 GB: music/general animation
DVDs: store very large files such as films
Both can be used to store computer data
Advantage: portable Disadvantage: easily damaged
CD ROM & DVD ROM:
CDs: used by companies for distribution: software/music/books
DVDs: used mainly by film distributors
Advantage: read only memory - permanent data Disadvantage: uneditable
CD R & DVD R (readable):
CDs: recording of music downloads from the internet or mp3 format/backup purposes
DVDs: recording of films and televison programs
Applications which require a single burning of data
Advantage: cheaper than CD/DVD RW Disadvantage: not readable on all CD players

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

02

Optical backing storage media

CD RW/DVD RW (re-writable):
Applications which require the updating of information and re-writing of data
Useful for keeping generations of files
Advantage: can be used more than once Disadvantage: can be accidentally over-written
DVD-RAM:
General data storage/for recording videos in camcorders
Advantage: greater storage than CDs/DVDs Disadvantage: relatively expensive
Blu-ray discs:
Used for storing films/home video game consoles/storage of PC data
Advantage: high data transfer rate Disadvantage: very expensive
Minidiscs:
Form of hybrid media
Used for storing music for use in portable music players
Advantage: robust Disadvantage: low capacity

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.

03

Solid-state backing storage media

Memory stick/Pen drive:
For transporting files and backup data/can be used as dongles
Advantage: very portable and robust Disdavntage: cannot be write protected
Flash memory card:
Form of EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)
Used in digital camers, palmtops, mobile phones and mp3 players
Used as backing storage
Advantage: relatively compact Disadvantage: expensive per GB compared HDDs

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

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