Module 07 Digital Storage

CINF 1370

Storage

Long-term, permanent access of data and information.

secondary storage

The physical material on which a computer keeps data, information, programs, and applications. Also called a storage medium.

storage device

Device that records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items to and from storage media.

writing

The process of transferring data, instructions, and information from memory to a storage medium.

reading

The process of transferring items from a storage medium into memory.

capacity

The number of bytes (characters) a storage medium can hold.

access time

The amount of time it takes the processor to read data, instructions, and information from memory.

transfer rate

The speed with which data, instructions, and information transfer to and from a device.

hard disk

A storage device permanently housed (or fixed) inside a computer case.

hard disk drive

Storage device that includes one or more inflexible, circular platters that use magnetic particles to store data, instructions, and information.

platter

Component of a hard disk that is made of aluminum, glass, or ceramic and is coated with an alloy material that allows items to be recorded magnetically on its surface.

longitudinal recording

Storage technique in which magnetic particles are aligned horizontally around the surface of the disk.

perpendicular recording

Storage technique in which magnetic particles are aligned vertically, or perpendicular to the disk’s surface, making much greater storage capacities possible.

density

The number of bits in an area on a storage medium.

formatting

The process of dividing a disk into tracks and sectors so that the operating system can store and locate data and information on the disk.

track

One of the series of concentric circles on one of the surfaces of a magnetic hard disk platter.

sector

An individual block of data; a segment of a track.

read/write head

The mechanism that reads items and writes items in the drive as it barely touches the disk’s recording surface.

solid-state media

Media that consist entirely of electronic components, such as integrated circuits, and contain no moving parts.

memory card

Removable flash memory, usually no bigger than 1.5 inches in height or width, that the user inserts and removes from a slot in a computer, mobile device, or card/reader writer.

USB flash drive

A removable storage device for folders and files that the user plugs into a USB port on their computer; makes it easy to transport folders and files to other computers; also called a pen drive, flash drive, jump drive, keychain drive, or thumb drive.

optical disc

Type of storage medium that consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is written and read by a laser.

infrastructure as a service

Cloud computing service that uses software to emulate hardware capabilities, enabling companies to scale, or adjust up or down, storage, processing power, or bandwidth as needed.

storage as a service

Cloud storage service that offers file management services, such as storing files online, system backup, and archiving earlier versions of files.

virtual desktop

In Windows 10, an additional desktop that the user can create using the Task View button on the taskbar.

data as a service

Cloud computing service that allows users and applications to access a company’s data.

mashups

Application that incorporates data from multiple providers into a new application.

platform as a service

Cloud computing service that allows developers to create, test, and run their solutions on a cloud platform without having to purchase or configure the underlying hardware and software.

cryptocurrency

Digital currency that can be used to transfer money or payment between users or corporations.

payment apps

App type that enables users to transfer money between a credit card or bank account to another user

digital wallet

An app that is connected to a specific payment card or financial account.

redundancy

A database condition in which database data is stored in more than one place.

data center

A secure location with many large computers that act as servers, which make files available to users.

mirroring

RAID storage design that writes data on two disks at the same time to duplicate the data. Also referred to as level 1.

striping

RAID storage technique that splits data, instructions, and information across multiple drives in the array.

Network attached storage

One or more hard drives that connect directly to a network and provide a centralized location for storing programs and data on large and small networks.

storage area network

A high-speed network with the sole purpose of providing storage to other attached servers.

Tape

A magnetically coated ribbon of plastic that is capable of storing large amounts of data and information at a low cost.

magnetic stripe card

A credit card, entertainment card, bank card, or other similar card with a stripe that contains information identifying the user and the card.

RFID tag

Tag that includes an antenna and a memory chip that contains the information to be transmitted via radio waves. 1-5.

operating system

A program that manages the complete operation of the user’s computer or mobile device and lets them interact with it.

adress

A sequence of drive and folder names that describes a folder’s or file’s location in the file hierarchy.

main memory

Memory chips that can be read from and written to by the processor and other devices. Also called RAM (random access memory).

Memory cache

Temporary storage area that helps speed the processes of a computer by storing frequently used instructions and data.

Flash memory

A type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased electronically and rewritten.

CMOS

Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor; technology used by some RAM chips, flash memory chips, and other types of memory chips that provides high speeds and consumes little power by using battery power to retain information even when the power to a computer is off.

beacons

A device that sends low-energy Bluetooth signals to nearby smartphones to alert customers who use a payment app.