Memory and Storage Devices

Memory

With respect to class 8 Memory and Storage Devices, memory is the storage device that facilitates the remembrance power to a computer system.
It refers to the physical devices used to store programs (sequences of instructions) or data on a temporary or permanent media in a computer.
Any information stored in the computer systems that are fast (i.e. RAM) is the primary memory.
Secondary memory is a physical device for program and data storage which are slow to access but offer higher memory capacity.
Primary memory stored on secondary memory is called virtual memory.
Primary Memory can be categorized as Volatile Memory & Non-Volatile Memory.

Volatile memory (RAM): With respect to class 8 computer lessons, volatile memory requires power to maintain the stored information. Most modern semiconductor volatile memory is either Static RAM or dynamic RAM.

Static RAM: With respect to class 8 computer lessons, until it is connected to the power supply it retains the contents and is easy to interface too but uses six transistors per bit.
Dynamic RAM: Complicated to interface and control and also needs a regular refresh cycle to prevent the contents being lost.

Non Volatile Memory (ROM): With respect to class 8 computer lessons, non-volatile memory is computer memory that can retain the stored information even when not connected to power supply. Examples of non-volatile memory are the flash memory and ROM/PROM/EPROM/EEPROM memory (used for firmware such as boot programs).

Cache Memory: With respect to class 8 Memory and Storage Devices, it is an auxiliary memory, from which high-speed retrieval is possible.

Storage devices with respect to class 8 Memory and Storage Devices

Need for storage in a computer –

A computer cannot save or remember any information without storage.
A computer can run with no storage device; however, we can only view the information.
Even the simplest task like browsing the Internet requires information to be stored on your computer.

Multiple types of storage devices –

Computers store huge data as we use computers in all fields.
When new storage devices have launched the usage of previously used storage devices gets low.
All recently invented storage devices hold more space and can have quick access.
For example, in the initial stage, we used punch cards later came the floppy disks.
Floppy disks are replaced by CD-ROM drives, which were replaced by DVD drives, which have been replaced by flash drives.

Storage location –

It is the path or space where the information is saved to.
When you try to save a document it will prompt you with the storage location, where you would like to save the information.
Mostly all the information is saved to your computer hard drive.
This information can be transferred to other devices with help of internet or portable devices.

With respect to class 8 computer lessons, what storage devices are used today?

As we have developments every now and then most of the storage devices used earlier is no longer used with today's computers.

Desktop computers with disc drives typically use a disc drive that is capable of reading CD's and DVD's and writing CD-R and other recordable discs.

With respect to class 8 computer lessons, what storage device has the largest capacity?

The largest storage device for the personal computer is the hard drive or SSD.
However, computers that are connected to networks have access to larger storage with large tape drives or cloud computing.
We have two types of storage devices they are a primary storage device and a secondary storage device.
Primary storage devices are like RAM.
Secondary storage devices are like the hard disk which can be removable, internal, or external storage.

Examples of computer storage with respect to class 8 Memory and Storage Devices

Magnetic storage devices:

This is one of the most common types of storage used in computers.
Most of the external storage devices used this technology.

Examples are -

Floppy diskette
Hard drive
Magnetic strip
Super Disk
Tape cassette
Zip diskette

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Optical storage devices:

This principle works using lasers and lights.
Lasers and lights are used for reading and writing data.
Examples are -
Blu-ray disc
CD-ROM disc
CD-R and CD-RW disc

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Flash memory devices with respect to class 8 Memory and Storage Devices

As these storages were cheaper, efficient and reliable it replaced magnetic media.
Examples are -
USB flash drive
Memory card
Memory stick
SSD

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Online and cloud:

To access data from more than one device now most trending storage media is to store data online and in clouds.

Examples are -

Cloud storage
Network media

Paper storage:

In earlier days for storing information, computers had no method of using any of the above technologies and had to rely on paper.
These days, the below-given forms of storage are rarely used or found.
Examples are -

OMR (Optical Mark Recognition, OMR is the process of gathering information from human beings by recognizing marks on a document.)
Punch card

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Recap with respect to class 8 Memory and Storage Devices

Memory

It is the storage device that facilitates the remembrance power to the computer system.
Volatile memory (RAM): Volatile memory requires power to maintain the stored information. Most modern semiconductor volatile memory is either Static RAM or dynamic RAM.

Non Volatile Memory (ROM): Non-volatile memory is computer memory that can retain the stored information even when not connected to power supply.

Cache Memory: It is an auxiliary memory, from which high-speed retrieval is possible.

Storage devices -

Need for storage in a computer
Multiple types of storage devices
Storage location
Which storage devices are used today?
What storage device has the largest capacity?
Examples of computer storage

Quiz for Memory and Storage Devices

Q.1	Time taken by device to read actual data is
a)	Transfer time
b)	Seek time
c)	Seek Delay
d)	Access Delay

Q.2	A single disk which is held in protective jacket and the surface is magnetized and can read/write data is
a)	Hard disc
b)	Protective disc
c)	Magnetized disc
d)	Floppy disk

Q.3	Laser discs and compact discs are
a)	Blocked discs
b)	Bubble discs
c)	Optical discs
d)	Fixed head discs

Q.4	Which of the following is not a magnetic storage type?
a)	Hard discs
b)	Floppy disks
c)	Compact Disk
d)	Magnetic Tape

Q.5	What is FAT or File allocation table?
a)	Stores the master boot record
b)	A log that records each file's location and each sector's status
c)	Enables the user to store data on the disk
d)	The portion of the disk which actually holds data

Q.6	What is a diskette?
a)	Rewritable disk
b)	Low capacity hard disk
c)	Pen drives
d)	Floppy disk

Q.7	Due to long access times, ______ are used mainly for backups.
a)	Tape drives
b)	Hard drives
c)	Soft drives
d)	Registers

Q.8	Identify the following :
a)	Pen drive
b)	Hard disk
c)	RAM
d)	ROM

Q.9	What is EEPROM?
a)	Electric Effective Programmable Read Only Memory
b)	Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
c)	Extra Erasable Permanent Read Only Memory
d)	Extra Effective Programmable Read Only Memory

Q.10	The ______Q14____ is a high speed memory available inside CPU to speed up access to data and instructions stored in ____Q15____. It keeps as much of the information in ____Q16____ and avoids accessing slower ____Q17_____. The ______Q14____ is a high speed memory available inside CPU to speed up access to data and instructions stored in ____Q15____.
a)	RAM
b)	ROM
c)	Register
d)	Cache