Ch3: Storage devices and

media
3.2 OPTICAL ME DIA AND OPTICAL STORAGE DE VIC E S
3. 3 SO L ID – STATE ME DIA AND SOL ID- STATE STORAG E DE VICE S
3. 4 TH E F U TU R E OF STORAG E DE VICE S
3.2 Optical media and optical
storage devices
Optical storage
devices

CD/DVD
Blu-ray discs
optical disks
CD/DVD optical disks
Red Laser light is used to read data and write
( R - Write once only) – (ROM - only read ) – ( RW - written or read
many times)
data is stored in lands and pits
DVD has larger storage due to dual-layering

CD/DVD
optical disks

CD-R CD-RW CD-ROM

DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-ROM
CD-R/DVD-R
R letter means the disk is recordable once only
The data is stored in pits and lands on the spiral
track (lands are the gaps between pits). A red laser
is used to read and write the data.
Activity
Category cards: CD, DVD, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RW.
Fact cards: Examples:
“Can only be read, not written to.”
“Can be written to once.”
“Can be erased and rewritten many times.”
“Stores around 700 MB.”
“Stores around 4.7 GB.”
“Often used for distributing software.”
“Often used for video storage.”
Students work in groups of 3–4. Their task: match the facts with the correct category card.
3.2.2 Blu-ray discs
Blu-ray discs are another example of optical storage media.
The main differences between DVD and Blu-ray are:
 A blue laser, rather than a red laser, is used to carry out Blu-ray read and write operations
 Using blue laser light means that the pits and lands can be much smaller; consequently, Blu-ray
can store up to five times more data than normal DVD.
 Blu-ray disks automatically come with a secure encryption system which helps to prevent piracy
and copyright infringement.
 The data transfer rate for a DVD is 10 Mbps and for a Blu-ray disc it is 36 Mbps
comparison of the capacity of DvDs and
Blu-ray discs
Hours of Standard Hours of High Definition
Disc Type Storage Capacity
Definition (SD) Movies (HD) Movies

-
Single-layer DVD 4.7 GB 2 hours

Single-layer Blu-ray 27 GB 13 hours 2 hours

Dual-layer Blu-ray 50 GB 20 hours 4.5 hours

Blu-ray devices allow greater
interactivity than DVD devices.
with Blu-ray, it is possible to:
– record high definition television programmes
– skip quickly to any part of the disc
– create playlists of recorded movies and television programmes
– edit or re-order programmes recorded on the disc
– automatically search for empty space on the disc to avoid over-recording
– access websites and download subtitles and other interesting features.
Objectives:
Understand the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of different
solid-state media and devices:
◦ SSD
◦ Pen drive
◦ Memory cards
 Knowing potential future developments in storage technology
3.3.1 Floating gate and control gate
transistors
gate transistor to retain its charge (which is why the memory is non-volatile). The floating gate
transistor has a value of 1 when it is charged and a value of 0 when it is not. To program one
of these ‘intersection cells’ a voltage is applied to the control gate and electrons from the
electron source are attracted to it. But due to the dielectric coating, the electrons become
trapped in the floating gate.
Solid state devices
are:
 Solid-state drive (SSD)
Pen drive/ Memory stick
Memory cards
 3.3.2 Solid-state drives (SSD)
Primary backing storage device. More commonly used in
laptops, smartphones, tablets etc.

Solid-state storage devices are based on electronic circuits with

no moving parts
Solid-state storage devices store data using a special type of
memory called flash memory.
 3.3.2 Solid-state drives (SSD)
Advantages of SSDs:
•No moving parts – more reliable/robust
•They are lighter (suitable for laptops)
• Consumes less power
•Faster data transfer rate
•Faster access rate
•They run much cooler than HDDs
•Faster start up time.
 3.3.2 Solid-state drives (SSD)
Disadvantages of SSDs:
•SSD endurance: Limited number of read and write
before they wear out and produce errors
•More expensive per GB compared to HDD
3.3.3 Pen drives
•Very small, lightweight portable solid state
storage devices.
Uses:
•Mainly used for backup and file transfer between
computers.
•Used as a security device to prevent software piracy
(known as a dongle).
3.3.3 Pen drives
Advantages of memory stick/pen drives:

• Very compact and Portable media.

• Very robust.
• Does not need additional software to work on most
computers.
• They are not affected by magnetic fields.
3.3.3 Pen drives
Disadvantages of memory sticks/pen drives:

• Easy to lose (due to the small physical size).

• Might get damaged or corrupt the data if not well
ejected from a computer.
•Cannot write protect the data/files by making it ‘read-
only’.
3.3.4 Memory cards
A memory card makes use of solid-state technology, and they come in
many formats:

•SD cards (secure digital card) : used in portable devices (e.g

smartphones)
•XD cards (extreme digital card) : used in digital cameras
•CFast card (compactfast card) : used in digital cameras with higher-
end digital photo and video.
3.3.4 Memory cards
Uses of memory cards:
•Storing photos on digital cameras.
•Used as mobile phone memory cards.
•Used in MP3 players to store music files.
• Used as a backing store in hand-held computer devices.
3.3.4 Memory cards
Advantages of memory cards:

• Very compact – can be easily removed and used in another

device.
• Very durable – no moving parts.
• They can hold large amounts of data.
3.3.4 Memory cards
Disadvantages of memory cards
•Expensive per gigabyte
•lower storage capacity than hard disks
•Short life span due to limited read and write operations
•Not all computers come with memory card readers built in
•they are more likely to be lost, stolen or damaged.
3.4 The Future of Storage
Devices
Many computer systems now come only with USB connectors and no internal DVD or CD drive.
The main method of transferring files between devices has become the flash memory.
Many people now store all their music in the following ways:
•on hard disk drive systems
•in MP3 format on:
– a computer/tablet
– their mobile/smartphone
– a portable music player (such as an iPod)

•using the cloud to store all their files so they can access their music from anywhere in the world
•by streaming their music from the internet; provided the user has an internet connection, they
can access music through a laptop computer, smartphone, tablet or any other receiving device.