Input, Output and Storage Devices

Input Device

Any device that allows you to put information from the outside world into a computer system

Output Device

Any device that can take data stored in digital form and convert it into another format that humans can process such as sound, images, and vibrations

Storage Device

Any device used for temporary/permanent storage of data; can be external or internal.

Drive

Devices that read/writes data from secondary storage

Media

What data is actually stored on

Optical Storage

Positives

Cheap, Lightweight, Portable

Negatives

Slow access times, prone to scratches

Magnetic Storage

Positives

Cheap, portable

Negatives

Slow access times, fragile

Solid State Storage

Positive

Durable, fast access times

Negative

Cost, limited read/write cycles

Secondary Storage

Non volatile, have large amount of space, long term storage of data

RAM AND ROM

RAM (Random-Access Memory)

Temporary storage of instructions and data; volatile; holds information currently in use; much faster than the hard disk

ROM (Read-Only Memory)

Non-volatile; contains bootstrap — sends signal to all components in computer to wake them up