Input, Output and Storage

Question 1

Input Device

Answer 1

peripheral devices that allow the user to communicate and to pass readable data into a computer, decode it and send it to the CPU

feed information from the outside world to a computer

Question 2

Output Device

Answer 2

peripheral devices that convert signals from a computer into a human-readable form

Feeds information from a computer out to the outside world

Question 3

Storage Device

Answer 3

Provides a space to store information either on a short term or long term basis

Question 4

Types of Input Devices (there’s 8)

Answer 4

Concept keyboard, trackball, joystick, video digitiser, barcode reader, magnetic strip reader, magnetic ink character reader, optical mark reader

Question 5

Types of output devices (there’s 4)

Answer 5

plotter, screen reader, braille printer, haptic feedback

Question 6

Magnetic storage devices

Answer 6

• computer data is represented as a series of OFF (zero) and ON (one) values
• the zeros and ones can be encoded by charging a magnetic particle as a north up or a south charge up
• the read/write head is used to charge the state of a magnetic particle

Question 7

Magnetic Storage Devices - Hard Drive

Answer 7

Platter - Coated in magnetic particles and is spun at high speeds (5400rpm, 7200rpm, 10000rpm or 15000rpm)

the read/write head is attached to an actuator arm

the actuator is a sensitive motor which can move the head to any place on the platter

its the actuator that makes the clicking noise you sometimes hear

magnetic hard drives are said to provide random data access as they can quickly access any part of the platter rather than waiting for it to be spooled

Question 8

Virtual Storage

Answer 8

Virtual storage can also refer to the abstraction or separation of logical storage from physical storage
Storing and retrieving data from cloud storage rather than on a local device
More popular due to increase network speeds

Question 9

Virtual Storage +/-

Answer 9

+ data accessed anywhere - as long as there is a connection
+ easy to share data
+ storage can be seen as limitless

• expensive of monthly costs
• poor connection will mean slow retrieval of files
• can’t access without internet connection

Question 10

Magnetic storage device - Hard drive advantages

Answer 10

Cost - A modern 4TB hard drive can be purchased for about £100. this is one of the lowest costs per byte of any storage device

Speed - Quicker than most storage devices, except for flash memory

Reliability - Data is generally kept safe for several years of constant use

Question 11

Magnetic storage device - Hard drive disadvantages

Answer 11

Heat - As there is a high speed motor spinning the platter this generates heat as waste energy. this can potentially cause issues for computers and wastes electricity (and money). In data centres extra cooling is required to prevent over heating

Size - Size of platter and actuator makes it a larger than flash memory

Noise - Due to motor and actuator

Fragility - sensitive to being dropped and the read / write head can impact the platter and scratch the surface

Question 12

flash storage definition

Answer 12

a solid state technology that stores data on a collection of memory chips

no moving parts as data is accessed by software

Question 13

magnetic storage

Answer 13

relies on the polarisation of magnetic particles to store bits on a magnetic material which is typically moved mechanically

a high capacity and low cost means of storage

Question 14

optical storage

Answer 14

data is stored in the reflectivity (pits and lands) of a surface, and is read and written to by a laser

Question 15

RAM definition

Answer 15

memory used to store programs and data in use by the computer

quick access times by all data is lost when the computer is turned off (volatile memory)

Question 16

ROM definition

Answer 16

read only memory

memory used to store information that is permanently required to boot up and run the computer

cannot be written to and is non-volatile

Question 17

give an example of a device which is used for both input and output

Answer 17

touchscreen

Question 18

what name is given to the areas on a CD’s surface which have been burned into grooves by a laser

Answer 18

pits

Question 19

what does CD stand for

Answer 19

compact disc

Question 20

which has the highest typical storage capacity: CD, DVD or Blu-Ray

Answer 20

blu-ray

Question 21

in a hard disk drive, what is mounted at the end of the actuating arm?

Answer 21

read/write head

Question 22

give three types of magnetic storage

Answer 22

hard disk drive
floppy disk
magnetic tape

Question 23

which storage device has typical capabilities in the range 500GB - 5 TB

Answer 23

hard disk drive

Question 24

give two disadvantages of SSDs (solid disk drives)

Answer 24

high cost per GB
limited lifespan

Question 25

describe the structure in which information is stored in flash memory

Answer 25

information is stored in blocks, which are combined to form pages

Question 26

what is meant by non-volatile

Answer 26

a non-volatile storage medium does not lose its information when power is lost

Question 27

which two types of logic gates are used in flash storage

Answer 27

NAND (Not AND) NOR (Not OR)

Question 28

give three advantages of SSDs

Answer 28

high transfer speeds lightweight no moving parts

Question 29

is ROM volatile or non-volatile

Answer 29

non-volatile

Question 30

which form of storage device uses silicon semiconductors to store information

Answer 30

Flash

Question 31

give three disadvantages of CDs

Answer 31

they are easily damaged by scratches they have relatively low capabilities they have relatively slow transfer speeds