The history of information storage is brief

We all heard about such a concept as information. It surrounds us everywhere, without it our existence is impossible. But what do we know about the information itself, its types, ways, methods of its storage. And is the history of the means of information storage known to us? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

Definition of information

Before talking about storage devices, let's say a couple of words about the very definition of information. Then we will analyze the means of its processing and storage, and also briefly consider such a question as the history of the means of information storage.

To date, there is no one clear and generally accepted definition of information. Therefore, proceeding from many available concepts, it can be said that information is knowledge or information about something or someone. This information can be collected, processed and stored, used for various purposes. One of the main operations that carry it out is its storage.

In this article, we will look at the main types of devices, and also touch upon such issues as the means and methods of storing information.

Concept and types of devices

Information storage devices are information carriers, the purpose of which is to record and store data.

With regard to computers, two types of devices are distinguished: external and internal. External include hard and magnetic disks, optical disks DVD and CD, tape drives, flash drives. Internal devices are RAM of the computer, its cache memory, BIOS, and CMOS memory.

The most well-known in our time means of information storage are disks and flash drives. Next, we'll talk about them in more detail and find out what their features are and when they entered our life.

Means of data processing

Before we talk about the means of information processing, that is, the devices that help us work with the data, we will get acquainted with important definitions.

Information processing is the modification of data.

Means of information processing and storage are devices, computers: computers, laptops, which help to read and process data.

Sometimes devices for information processing include devices that help us to read data, to get acquainted with them.

So, the first devices for data processing can be considered music boxes and phonographs, magic lights and filmoscopes, printing press. Later, new tools, such as gramophones, gramophones, radios, cameras, diaphragms and film projectors, typewriters, appear later. We are accustomed to tape recorders and cameras, video cameras, scanners, TVs and printers, which also help us process information.

The first means of information storage

Now consider the issue of how the history of storage media. Computer science considers this issue, since ancient times. It is believed that the first carriers were the walls of the caves, on which the rock drawings were applied. The purpose of such inscriptions was to store data, transfer it to its descendants. With their help, the main moments of hunting, family life, beliefs and other significant events were transmitted. Over time, people began to apply for these purposes already clay tablets and papyrus, on which they wrote already in hieroglyphics or letters. Then came the time and papers.

Significantly later, there are such carriers of information as punched cards and punched tapes. Further, in the mid-fifties of the last century, they are replaced by a magnetic tape. In 1969, the first flexible disk was invented, which was a breakthrough in the history of the development of storage devices.

The most common means of data storage in our time

The history of the means of information storage that we use at the present time began in the second half of the last century. The most well-known and used in our time media - CD and DVD discs and Flash-cards.

CD-carriers refer to optical media, which have the form of a disk made of plastic, in the center of which there is a circular hole. The data is recorded and read by means of a laser. Mainly used for recording music files, images and documents. The average volume of the device is 670 MB. The date of birth of disks is 1980. The authors of the idea were two companies with a worldwide reputation - Philips and Sony.

DVD has the same appearance as CD. The only difference is that its capacity is from 4.5 to 17 GB, which allows you to store on it a fairly large amount of files. The development of these discs was also carried out by Philips together with Sony from the beginning of the 90s of the last century. The first disc was released in 1996.

USB-flash drive - a device made on a single chip. Has a compact small size. The capacity of the device is from 2 to 512 GB. Allows you to store any files. There were data devices in 2000, with the first carrier could contain only 8 MB of information. The invention is attributed to the Israeli company M-Systems.

Which media should I choose?

Of course, the history of the means of information storage allows us to learn a lot about them. Finally, let's say a few words about which media is best. If we talk about data storage, then the worst option is to store everything on a PC or laptop. Viruses, technical problems - all this can be the reason for the loss of important information. In addition, hacking your device, detractors quickly get to know everything that you store in the memory of your PC.

Quite cheap and reliable way - storage on disks. But here it is worthwhile to reinsure and record a few. Despite the fragility of disks, they can store information for more than 10 years. In this case, we advise you to store data only on non-rewritable disks.

The last option - flash drives. But, despite their compactness, they are rather unreliable. First, so until now and not set the life of the drives. Secondly, you run the risk of losing data by connecting the device to a computer with a virus.

conclusions

So, the history of the means of information storage, briefly described by us, is quite interesting. We found out which device is the most reliable and why. We hope that this information was useful to you.