Input, Output and Storage

Input, Output and Storage

1. USES

   • Input and output devices summaries the extent of devices that can be connected to the computer as peripheries.
     • The most common input and output devices are keyboards/mice and speakers/monitors. These are found on all modern PC's as they allow the user to communicate with the computer to solve a problem

2. RAM/ROM

   • Read Only memory is non-volatile and cannot be written to. It stores the program used to boot up the computer
   • Random Access Memory is where the programs and data being run are stored. It s easier and faster to access than other locations but is volatile.

3. MAGNETIC/FLASH/OPTICAL

   • Using magnetisable materials, patterns of magnetisation are used to represent a multitude of binary sequences. Tending to have a high capacity at a low production cost makes them suitable for hard disk drives to back up information or servers.
   • Since it has no moving parts and therefore won't be damaged if dropped, flash storage is a used for portable media/devices. However each memory location can only be written to a certain number of times (usually 100,000). therefore the SSD (Solid State Drive) with move frequently written files to different memory locations increasing its life expectancy.
   • Optical works by using a read/write head to read the reflections on the disc surface. the laser determine if there are pits on the surface, representing 1s and 0s. Optical is versatile and cheap to distribute which is why it is used for transporting media like games or films

4. VIRTUAL STORAGE

   • Storage that can be accessed by the computer through the internet. It is not stored locally but instead in the cloud on a remote server, allowing for large amounts of storage that can be automatically backed up