A computational storage device is a device that is capable of storing data or information. Historically, the most common device for information preservation is paper, but due to developments in technology, it is now possible to store information digitally, with the added advantages of low cost and space requirements.
Contents
- Random Access Memory
- Cache Memory
- Hard Disk Drive
- Portable devices
- Floppy Disk
- CD ROM
- DVD
- USB Flash Drive
- References
The first integrated circuit (also referred to as IC, microchip, or simply chip) was first developed in 1959 by newly appointed Texas Instruments engineer Jack Kilby to solve the problem of the so-called tyranny of numbers. It was a germanium device that integrated six transistors in the same semiconductor base to form an oscillator phase rotation. Kilby was awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics for the achievement.
A transistor is an electronic switch which acts as a control device in circuits. It is able to turn on or off or amplify an electrical signal. For example, transistors are used in computers to store information or in amplifiers to increase volume.
The development of integrated circuits is widely seen as a landmark scientific achievement. It diminished the need for complex wiring between components and enabled the storage of an unprecedented amount of information. This ushered in the Third Generation of Computers in the 1960s, an improvement over the first and second generations of computers, which used vacuum tubes and transistors respectively.
Random Access Memory
Random-access Memory (RAM) is a form of data storage in which commonly used program instructions are stored to increase the speed of a computer system. A random access memory device enables data to be read and written regardless of the actual physical location of the data within the storage device, as opposed to other forms of data storage such as hard disks, in which the time taken for data to be read may vary significantly for data in different locations within the storage device. In modern computers, RAM is used as temporary form of storage, known as virtual memory. The two most widely used forms of RAM are static RAM (SRAM) and dynamic RAM (DRAM). In static RAM, bit are stored in a six transistor memory cell. Though faster and requiring less power than dynamic RAM, static RAM is more expensive to produce. Dynamic RAM, on the other hand, stores information on a transistor and capacitor pair, and is therefore cheaper to produce than static RAM. Hence, dynamic RAM is the main form of data storage in modern computers.
Cache Memory
The cache is a storage device used by the CPU to temporarily store data recently processed to reduce the average time taken to access data in the memory. The cache is a smaller and faster memory which stores copies of data located in main memory locations that are used more frequently.
The cache temporarily stores duplicates of data which the CPU may require in the short term, such as results from a calculation. This shortens the time needed for the processor to read or write to the memory location, as the cache is physically located very close to the processor.
Hard Disk Drive
It is the storage medium par excellence. Since 1955 the first hard drive out until today, the hard drive or HDD has had a great development. Hard drives are used in desktop computers, laptops and other more complex storage units. The hard drive is the component that is responsible for storing all the data we want. While RAM memory acts as "support" (like variable that stores and loses information as data are being processed), the hard disk permanently stores the information that we put until it is deleted. Generally, the first thing is recorded on a hard disk is the operating system that we use in our computer. Once you have installed the operating system on the hard drive, we can use all the programs you want to have installed, and all the information you want to save is stored on the hard disk. Hard disk store anything such as documents, images, sounds, programs, videos, files, etc.
Hard drives have also evolved a lot over the last twenty years, especially expanding its capacity
The hard drive is basically composed of:
Typically they use a magnetic recording analog system.
The number of discs depends on the capacity of the HDD, the number of heads and the number of discs multiplied by 2, due to a HHD carries a head for each face of each disc (4 discs = 8 faces = 8 heads).
Currently the standard size is 3.5' wide for PC's HDD and 2.5' disks for laptops.
Portable devices
Besides the fixed devices that exist as components in a computer, there are others that can be inserted and removed on any computer. These systems are really useful to transport information between two or more computers.
Floppy Disk
A floppy disk, also called a floppy, diskette or just disk, is a type of disk storage composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic enclosure lined with fabric that removes dust particles. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive (FDD).
In the 80s they enjoyed great popularity. Software and PC games were distributed in this format. Since at that time programs and games they were less than 1MB, fit perfectly in the diskettes. a rectangular diskette existed in it's day, and later 3 1/2 inch diskettes appeared. In the nineties, programs began to occupy more memory, so in some cases several diskettes were needed to complete an installation.
The floppy disk is a magnetic storage system, like cassettes or hard disks, and although they have been popular since the 80s so far, but now they are obsolete. In fact, all computers already leave the factory without Floppy drives, because the diskettes have remained small in capacity and speed. Given how much space existing programs use, a diskette was later useful only to store some text documents, images and presentations, and as of 2016 the use of diskettes has stopped.
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed optical compact disc which contains data. The name is an acronym which stands for "Compact Disc Read-Only Memory". Computers can read CD-ROMs, but cannot write to CD-ROMs which are not writable or erasable.
It is an optical (not flexible diskettes) compact disc used to store non-volatile information, i.e. the information entered on a CD in principle can not be deleted. Once a CD is written, it can not be modified, only read (hence its name). A CD-ROM is a flat plastic disc with digital information encoded in a spiral from the center to the edge. It was debuted in 1984 by Sony and Denon. Philips, NEC, Microsoft and Apple were some of the big computer companies that used it in the 1980s. It is one of the most commonly used storage devices. In fact, it was the substitute for storing music cassettes and diskettes to store other data.
There are several types of CD-ROM. The classics are about 12 centimeters in diameter, and can generally store 650 or 700 MB of information. However, in recent years they have also designed CD-ROMS with capacities of 800 or 900 MB. If we consider the capacity in minutes of music, 80 minutes would be the 700 MB, for example. There are also 8 cm discs with less capacity, but ideal to store relatively small software. Generally they used to record software, drivers, etc. Peripheral or the like, but also used to carry data as normal CD normally.
The main advantage of CD-ROM is its versatility, ease of operation, its small size (especially thick). However their main drawback is that they can not handle the data stored on it. In order to solve this problem they appeared CD-RW, or rewritable CD. Its characteristics are identical to normal CDs, but with the peculiarity that can be written as many times as you like. CDs are read by CD players, including a laser that reads data from the disk center to the edge. The system is similar to punch cards. While on a punch card is clearly visible its holes, in a CD micro perforations are included which are imperceptible to the naked eye because they are microscopic. When writing to a CD, the binary system with no drilling or drilling (zeros and ones) is used.
DVD
The growth in computer technology is such that even CDs have remained small. If 10 years ago the diskettes had remained small and it seemed that a CD was too "big", today all applications (programs, operating systems or video games) occupy much more memory. Traditional 700MB capacity of a CD were passed to 4.7GB of a DVD. The first burst of DVD sales appeared for the video format to replace the VHS classics. The advantages of the DVD were clear: greater capacity better quality can be stored. In addition, better data is preserved unlike magnetic tape cassettes which were easily erodible. A DVD is much more durable, picture and sound quality is also better. DVD movies started to become popular in the late 90s.
However, in those years still the CD were the most popular at computer level. A game may have taken up 600MB for installation, which easily fit on a CD. Gradually, video games and other programs began to occupy more, because with the progress of data, graphics and other technologies more memory is needed. Some video games began to occupy 4 or 5 CDs. Finally it was decided that because those programs take up more memory than fits on a CD, they were now stored on a DVD. DVDs are more expensive than CDs, but gradually are doing well with the market. They may be the final replacements for the CD, but for now the latter are not declining in sales at all. The sale of blank CDs is still overwhelming. However, DVD sales have soared, as more and more people begin to record more data and logically seek the smallest possible physical space.
There are also DVD-R, since like the CD, the normal DVD is read-only. But the lesson learned from the CD, rewritable DVD were designed. In addition, a few years ago that there are double-layer DVD. This type of DVD still read on one side, but with double layer data. There are also DVDs that can be read on both sides. There are double-sided and one layer, but if the DVD is double-sided, double layer for each, the capacity is 17 GB. However even these systems are used minimally, they are very expensive, but surely someday replace the current CD.
USB Flash Drive
The USB flash drive was invented in 1998 by IBM, but they did not patent it. Its aim was to replace floppy disks with much more capacity and speed of data transmission. Although currently in a CD or DVD the memory can be stored and then deleted or manipulated, USB drives are more convenient. They are small sized devices as light as a floppy disk, but with much greater capacity, currently ranging from 64 MB to several gigabytes. Its main advantage is its small size, its resilience (the memory itself is protected by a plastic casing as in a lighter) and its transmission rate.
Currently these devices are very fashionable, because thanks to its small size and shape USBs can be hung on a keychain, and can even store whole operating systems (Linux, Windows or Mac), with plug and play capabilities. There are also other devices such as MP3 players that have the same characteristics. They can store any type of data, but are mainly used for music files in format mp3 and wma, which are recognized and processed to be heard through headphones connected to the device. This is therefore a substitute for the Walkman. But also increasingly are new designs that are capable of storing tens of gigabytes (thousands of songs) and video, with a small screen to display the videos.