Input, output and storage Flashcards
The characteristics of contemporary processors,input,output and storage devices
Define hardware
Hardware is the description given to the physical components of a computer system.
What is the general hardware of the computer?
- A computer system has a CPU and memory.
- There is a form of storage
- There are devices to input data into and output information from the computer
What is the peripheral hardware of the computer
the term given to hardware attached to and used with a computer, but not an integral part of it.
- speakers
- webcams
what is an input device
Allow data to be entered into the computer
Eg. keyboard, mice, microphone, scanners and joysticks
What is an output device
Allow information to be retrieved from a computer
Eg. printers, speakers, monitors and actuators
What is magnetic storage
Uses a magnetisable material. Patterns of magnetisation are then used to represent binary sequences.
positives of magnetic storage
- Portable: Lightweight and easy to carry.
- Durable: Resistant to water and dust.
- Inexpensive: Cheap for distributing content like movies or software.
- Read-only option: Protects data from being accidentally modified (e.g., CD-ROMs).
- Wide compatibility: Can be read by most computers with an optical drive.
negatives of magnetic storage
- Low capacity: Typically holds less data than hard drives or flash storage (e.g., CDs: 700MB, DVDs: 4.7GB).
- Fragile: Easily scratched or damaged, leading to data loss.
- Slow access speed: Slower read and write speeds compared to other storage types.
- Obsolescence: Optical drives are becoming less common in modern devices.
- Limited rewritability: Some formats can only be written to once (e.g., CD-R, DVD-R).
Examples of magnetic storage
magnetic tape,floppy disks and hard disk drives
What is optical Storage
Uses a laser and by looking at its reflection, determines where there are pits on a surface, which repents 1s and 0s
positives of optical storage
- Portable: Lightweight and easy to carry.
- Durable: Resistant to water and dust.
- Inexpensive: Cheap for distributing content like movies or software.
- Read-only option: Protects data from being accidentally modified (e.g., CD-ROMs).
- Wide compatibility: Can be read by most computers with an optical drive.
negatives of optical storage
- Low Capacity: Holds less data than flash or HDD storage (e.g., CDs: 700MB, DVDs: 4.7GB).
- Fragile: Easily scratched or damaged, leading to data loss.
- Slow Access Speed: Slower read and write speeds compared to flash storage.
- Obsolescence: Optical drives are becoming less common in modern devices.
- Limited Rewritability: Some formats can only be written to once (e.g., CD-R, DVD-R).
Examples of optical storage
Compact disc (CD), DVD, Blue-ray disc
What is Flash Storage
Uses a special type of read-only memory that can be overwritten. While expensive,
positives of flash storage
- High Speed: Faster read and write speeds compared to optical and HDD storage.
- Portable: Small, lightweight, and easy to carry.
- Durable: No moving parts, making it shock-resistant.
- High Capacity: Offers large storage sizes in a small form factor.
- Energy Efficient: Uses less power than HDDs.
- Reusable: Supports many write/erase cycles.
negatives of flash storage
- Expensive: Higher cost per GB compared to HDDs.
- Limited Write Cycles: Over time, performance can degrade.
- Data Loss Risks: Can lose data if damaged or corrupted.
- Small Size Risks: Easy to misplace due to compact design.
Examples of flash storage
USB memory stick, Camera memory card, Solid-state drive
What is primary memory
Primary memory the CPU can access directly.
There are two types of primary memory:
- Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Read-only memory (ROM)
Define Random access memory (RAM)
A type of primary memory that the CPU uses for programs and data.
- Is volatile (loses its contents when electrical power is lost)
- Can be read from or written to
- Stores the parts of the operating systems, programs and data that are currently in use by the computer
Features of RAM
- volatile (loses its contents when electrical power is lost)
- Can be read from or written to
- Stores the parts of the operating systems, programs and data that are currently in use by the computer
Define Read-only memory (ROM)
A type of primary memory that can only be read from.
Features of ROM
- non-volatile (remains it’s contents when electrical power is lost)
- Is read-only and so cannot be written to
- Is often used to store the computer’s boot program
How can the ROM be used in emmedded systems
Storing firmware/ config/ operation instructions/ operating
system/ device drivers…
● …that can’t be overwritten
● …so that access is faster
Could be used as primary storage…
● …so no need to load programs into memory
● …so would save time loading up the program
Could be used as secondary storage…
● ….so the device will not need additional storage…
● ….to reduce the size of the device
What is virtual storage
Virtual storage is the use of software to simulate additional storage by combining physical storage devices or allocating storage across networks.
It is often used in cloud computing and virtualization.
What are the main uses of virtual storage?
- Cloud Storage: Allows users to store data online (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox).
- Virtual Machines: Provides storage for virtual environments.
- Network Storage: Shares storage across multiple devices in a network.
What are the advantages of virtual storage?
- Scalability: Easily increase or decrease storage as needed.
- Accessibility: Access from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Cost-effective: Reduces the need for physical hardware.
- Data Redundancy: Often includes backups to prevent data loss.
What are the disadvantages of virtual storage?
- Internet Dependency: Requires a reliable internet connection.
- Security Risks: Data may be vulnerable to hacking.
- Performance Issues: Slower than local storage in some cases.
- Costs for Large Storage: Can become expensive for high-capacity needs.
Give examples of virtual storage providers.
- Google Drive
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Dropbox
- Amazon S3
- iCloud
