1.1.3 - Input, Output and Storage

Question 1

What is an Input Device?

Answer 1

• A peripheral device used to pass data into the CPU and allows for the user to communicate with the computer.
• Example - Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone

Question 2

What is an Output Device?

Answer 2

• Any peripheral device used to report the results of processing from a computer by converting the data from digital form into a format users can process.
• Examples - Printer, Speaker, Monitor

Question 3

What is a Storage Device?

Answer 3

• Any device used to permanently or temporarily store data
• 3 Main Categories - Optical Storage, Magnetic Storage, Solid-State Storage

Question 4

What is Magnetic Storage? Give an Example

Answer 4

A storage medium which uses magnetisable material and works by magnetic patterns being read off platters that mechanically spin at high speeds.
- Example - Hard Drive, Floppy Disk

Question 5

Advantages of Magnetic Storage

Answer 5

• High Capacity per £
• Quick to access data when not fragmented

Question 6

Disadvantages of Magnetic Storage

Answer 6

• Lower Read and Write speeds
• Higher power consumption
• Contains moving parts so can be noisy and not very durable

Question 7

What is Flash Storage? Give an Example

Answer 7

A storage medium that uses memory chips. These can have their contents erased and subsequently overwritten when an electrical charge is applied.
- Example - USB Drive, SD Cards, SSD

Question 8

Advantages of Flash Memory

Answer 8

• Highest Read and Write speeds
• No moving parts so more durable
• Lower power consumption
• Can have the highest capacity of the 3

Question 9

Disadvantages of Flash Memory

Answer 9

• Expensive
• Difficult to manufacture

Question 10

What is Optical Storage? Give an Example

Answer 10

A medium of storage that shines Lasers at the Media (What the data is actually stored on) and processes the reflection from the Media.
- Example - DVD, Blu-Ray

Question 11

Advantages of Optical Memory

Answer 11

• Low Cost per MB to buy and produce
• Portable
• Doesn’t require an internet connection

Question 12

Disadvantages of Optical Memory

Answer 12

• Slow access times
• Lower Capacity
• Prone to scratches

Question 13

What is RAM?

Answer 13

• Random-Access Memory - Main memory; used to hold data and/or programs that are currently in us
• Generally larger than ROM, RAM is volatile (contents of its memory are erased when the power is off) and editable

Question 14

What is ROM?

Answer 14

• Read-Only Memory - Memory used for storing the OS and BIOS bootstrap program file to start up a computer quickly.
• Generally smaller than RAM, ROM is non-volatile (contents of its memory are not erased when the power is off) and non editable

Question 15

What is Virtual Storage?

Answer 15

Remote storage if data that can be accessed by any computer with access to the same system