Unit1: Units of data measurement and Storage devices

Animated by: Computer Science Teacher

Mrs Imen Tekaya Bouaziz

Units of data measurement

The most common units are the bit , and the byte (or octet), which is equivalent to eight bits.

The smallest unit of measurement of data is the bit: the shortned term for binary digits; which can accept two possible values 0 or1 or the capacity of a system which can exist in only two states.

1 byte(octet) = 8 bits = 23 bits

Multiples of byte are: KB( Kilo Byte), MB( Mega Byte), GB( Giga Byte), TB( TeraByte), etc.

1 KB= 1024 Byte (1kilo bytes= 1024 bytes=210 bytes)

1MB= 1024 KB (1Mega bytes= 1024 kilo bytes=210 kilo bytes)

1GB= 1024MB (1Giga bytes=1024Mega bytes=210 Mega bytes)

1Tera bytes = 1024 Giga bytes=210 Giga byte

1bit < 1 KB < 1MB < 1GB < 1TB

Activity: Try to find out the binary code of your name and then create a necklace representing your binary coded name using two different colors only

Example: IMEN 01001001 01001101 01000101 01001110

Storage device

Alternatively referred to as digital storage, storage, storage media, or storage medium, a storage device is any hardware capable of holding information either temporarilyor permanently.

There are two types of storage devices used with computers:

primary storage device, They have the fastest data access speed, and include RAM and cache memory. It’s a Volatile Storage: Requires a continuous supply of electricity to store/retain data.

secondary (auxiliary) storage : it’s a Non-Volatile Storage: A type of storage mechanism that retains digital data even if it’s powered off or isn’t supplied with electrical power; like a hard drive.

Secondary storage can be removable, internal, or external storage (example Drobo, an external secondary storage device).Without a storage device, your computer would not be able to save any settings or information.

It is characterized by its name, type and storage capacity (that we could measure with Multiples of byte).

referance

Examples of computer storage devices

Today, magnetic storage is one of the most common types of storage used with computers and is the technology that many computer hard drives use.

Floppy diskette

Hard drive

SuperDisk

Tape cassette (185 TB by Sony)

Zip diskette

Magnetic storage devices

Another common storage is optical storage, which uses lasers and lights as its method of reading and writing data.

Blu-Ray disc

CD-ROM disc

CD-R and CD-RW disc

DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW disc

Examples of computer storage devices

Optical storage devices

Flash memory has started to replace magnetic media as it becomes cheaper as it is the more efficient and reliable solution.

Jump drive or flash drive

Memory card

Memory stick

SSD

Flash Memory devices

Examples of computer storage devices

Storing data online and in cloud storage is becoming popular, as people need to access their data from more than one device.

Cloud storage

Network media

Advantages of Cloud Storage: Cost Effectiveness

This is the driving force behind the surge in the popularity of cloud storage. When you use a cloud storage service provider, you don’t have to own or maintain any of the hardware or software associated with backup storage. You simply pay a monthly fee no upfront investment) to store your data. The savings are substantial, right down to the power you don’t use to run hardwarestorage equipment.

AccessibilityCloud platforms run on the Internet. When you use cloud storage, you can access your data from any connected device, such as desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Just log into your cloud account, and all your stored data is there.

FlexibilityCloud storage systems are highly scalable. You can have as much or as little space as you need, and most providers allow you to storage capacity on demand, so there’s no upgrade or rollout wait for increased storage.

Disaster recoveryBecause cloud storage is a remote backup solution, your data is safe in the event of an on-site catastrophe. Disaster recovery is a much faster process, since there’s no physical equipment involved in getting the files back.

Online and Cloud

Examples of computer storage devices

Related Terms

Storage

Secondary Storage Device

Mass Storage Device (MSD)

Primary Storage Device

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Cache Memory

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM)