Data Storage

A Module of the CYC Course – Computer Basics

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What’s data?

• Data is any piece of information.

• Data is stored in your computer as a file with a specific name (filename).

• For example:– A picture taken with your digital camera is data.

– All the files you create are data.

Filenames

• Unique name of up to 255 letters, numbers, spaces or a combination, but don’t use \ “ * ? “ > < |

• May have an extension at the end - “.xxx” - that indicates what type of file it is.

Types of files

.wma, .wav, .mp3 or .mp4

.doc

Software Programs & Saved Files

Images, Photos, Clipart, Graphics

Music & Video

. jpg

.wmv, .mpeg, .avi or .mov

. gif

.ppt

File size

• Byte - A unit of information equivalent to a single keyboard character.

• Kilobyte (KB) - A unit of approximately 1000 bytes (1024 to be exact).

• Megabyte (MB) - A unit of approximately 1 million bytes. Average size for a 3.5-4 minute song is 4 MB.

• Gigabyte (GB) - A unit of approximately 1 billion bytes. Most hard drive sizes are listed in gigabytes.

Where are files stored or saved on your computer?

How does it work?

• Think of a filing cabinet…– File Folders with Labels

– Document (create or copy)

– Move or save files to folders on your computer just like a paper system

Storage Types

USB Flash DriveHard Drive: C

CD-ROMs & DVD-ROMs

Internet (cloud)

Viewing storage areas

Practice

• Save a file to your desk top.– Create a file, click File, Save As

• Open a file already on your hard drive.– Go to Start, My Computer

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Sources

• This curriculum was partially adapted from a workshop created by N. Riesgraf for the Hibbing Public Library (MN). Funding provided by IRRRA Do I.T. Community Technology Awareness Program. Updated March 2004. Revised for Jacksonville Public Library Dec 2005 by Kate Holmes. Updated March 2004.

• This curriculum was partially adapted from a slide presentation entitled “Windows Presentation 2009” created by the Indian Prairie Public Library.

• Additional content created by Connect Your Community, a project of OneCommunity, funded by the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

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Creative Commons License

• This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0