Computer application in

business
Describe storage capabilities of
different devices.
Storage;

Storage capacity;

Different storages system;

Floppy Disk
The floppy disk is an archaic physical external storage device that is now obsolete. There might
be some banks that still use this storage medium, but any business or person who is considered
computer literate does not use this system to store information. The down sides to floppy disks
are that they are not compatible with any device that is contemporary, their security is non-
existent, and the storage capacity is low - usually with a maximum of 1.44MB. The last version
of a floppy disk was released in 1987 by IBM.

Hard Drives
Every computer contains one, if not two, hard drives. There are internal and external
hard drives. The internal hard drive is located inside the system unit, and the
 external hard drive is connected to the computer for extra storage. It is vital that an
owner of a computer purchases an external hard drive to backup his or her
computer in case it crashed. An external hard drive is extremely convenient to store
information; however, one must be cautious of the possibility of "hard drive theft"
because it is easy for someone to access a random, external hard drive into their
own computer. Many people today use a finger print or password to access to their
hard drive because of this reason. Without a hard drive, one could not store the
countless amount of information contained to a computer. The hard drive holds a
port to connect to the motherboard. There are wide ranges of capacity for hard
drives, depending on the computer owner's preference. Magnetic hard drives and
solid-state hard drives are two common hard drives used for computers. A magnetic
hard drive is the term computer users mean when they say hard drive, and solid-
state hard drives cause flash memory technology. Without hard drives, many
information and data would be lost and forgotten.

Magnetic hard drive Solid-state hard drive

CDs, DVDs, and BDs

Recordable CDs

Read-only optical discs include CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and BD-ROM discs. These
are CDs or DVDs that come with something already prerecorded on them and they
cannot be cleared. This is because the pits that are molded into the surface of the
disc are permanent. There are also read-only discs for video games and different
software.
Recordable optical discs are also sometimes referred to as write-once discs. This
means that these can be written to but the discs cannot be reused or erased. These
include CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD + R, and BD-R discs. The difference between the
DVD-R and the DVD+R is the standard being used. There is also a DVD-R DL and a
DVD+R DL, which indicate whether or not it is dual layer. Using DVD+R will allow
you to instantly eject the DVD without having to wait for the finalized version. It also
allows you to record some of the DVD on a personal computer and some of it on the
TV. Another feature is that is it 100% compatible with all DVD players. Recordable
CDs are often used for backing up files, making music CDs, or sending large files to
other people. BD-R discs are used for even larger backups that need even more
storage and they are used for high-definition multimedia files.[11]
Rewritable optical discs include CD-RW, DVD-RW, and DVD + RW, and BD-RE
discs. These can be written on and then erased and rewritten on. To rewrite on
these types of discs they use phase change technology. So basically the rewriteable
disc is coated with a metal alloy compound. They then use heating and cooling to
write on the disc without making it permanent. These are used for backing up files
but they are more convenient than recordable optical discs because they can be
used multiple times.

Flash Memory
Flash Memory and How It Works

Flash Memory Structure

Flash memory is a type of storage device that uses electronic memory. Flash
memory comes in a variety of ways and is known as a solid state storage device,
meaning there are not moving parts everything is electronic instead of
mechanical. Flash memory is used in many different devices, such as, computers,
digital cameras, and mobile phones. Flash memory is a type of EEPROM chip.
EEPROM stands for Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.
Inside of a flash memory chip is a grid of columns and rows with a cell. There are
two transistors at each intersection and a thin oxide layer separates them. One
transistor is known as a floating gate and the other one is known as the control gate.
An electrical charge comes through the columns to the floating gate, which is called
tunneling. The electrical charge causes the floating gate transistor to act like an
electron gun. When the electrons get trapped on the other side of the thin oxide
layer, closer to the control gate transistor, they act like a barrier between the two
transistors. A cell sensor monitors the level of the charge. If the flow is above the
50% threshold, it has a value of 1 and if it is less, the value changes to 0. This is
how information/data is being read on the flash memory device. Nowadays, flash
memory has become the dominant memory type wherever a system requires a
significant amount of non-volatile, solid state storage.
Embedded Memory
Embedded memory is becoming an increasingly popular type of flash memory due
to its small, convenient size. In today's society these types of memory can be found
in phones, cameras, gaming devices, and even handheld devices like a GPS. [18] In
July 2013, Samsung announced that they developed the world's fastest embedded
memory. These new products will be available in the 16, 32, and 64 GB sizes and
feature an interface speed of 400 MB/s. This will increase user's abilities to multitask
and perform tasks such as file transferring, browsing, and gaming. It also decreases
the amount of time it takes to boot and load applications. This is a key factor in
mobile devices where the physical space for additional storage or memory is limited.
Memory cards are being used less and less when manufacturing mobile devices and
smart phones. One limitation of the chip is the amount of memory it could store. The
larger the chip, the more expensive the device is going to cost. Something else to
consider is the problem that arises if the device breaks. Any valuable information
that was stored on it is virtually irretrievable. That is one advantage of having a
removable memory as discussed below.
Flash Memory Cards and Readers

One of many different types of flash memory card that exists on the market.

If you want a fast and easy method of storing various types of media, you can't get
much better than a flash memory card. Most modern portable devices contain a
flash memory card because of its versatility and ease of use; cell phones, mp3
players, and digital cameras are but just a few examples of products that benefit
from flash memory cards. However, just like how not all electronic devices can use
the same type of battery, not all flash memory cards are compatible with every
electronic portable device. That's why it's always important to read your user manual
for instructions on the right card to purchase if you ever need a replacement.
Although the devices themselves can only use a specific flash memory card model,
most modern desktop and notebook computers come with a flash memory card
reader. The reader typically supports a number of different cards so you're able to
organize and transfer the data from card to computer. If you aren't one of the
fortunate few to have this reader built in to your computer, external models are sold
at most stores that sell computer components and they're inexpensive.

Sony PlayStation Memory Card made for gaming purposes only.

Although a general-purpose flash memory card is used for most applications, there
are other special memory cards that are made only for one unique purpose. For
example, a professional compact flash memory card is designed for professional
photographers for improved speed, quality, and storage capacities, taking telling a
story through a picture to the next level. Also, special gaming flash memory cards
are used for all game consoles, like Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation, to hold
saved game data. Other special flash memory cards include HD memory cards for
capturing high-definition videos; net book memory cards to expand the storage of a
net book computer; and Wi-Fi enabled flash memory cards used to wirelessly upload
photos from a camera.
USB Flash Drives

Sushiusb

The USB storage device is one that has been growing rapidly in popularity. It is a
very user friendly form of storage. To save information to a USB flash drive, one
simply must plug in the USB drive into the USB port (usually on the side or back of
the computer), click the "save as" option on their project, then select the drive on
their computer which represents the USB. Then one can eject the USB and take the
saved information anywhere they need. USBs are quickly advancing as well. There
are now ways that you can create an entire mobile computer, a fingerprint enabled
secure file, and secure the use of your computer all with the use of a single USB
flash drive. These new advances are sure to be hot on the market. USBs are high in
demand right now, not just because of their technical abilities but also because of
how you can choose a USB to fit into any lifestyle or match any personality. There
are thousands of custom USBs available in stores and online. These range in colors,
sizes, amounts of memory, and even shapes.[21] USB flash drives are something that
will definitely be here to stay for a while longer, even with the ever emerging cloud.
USB flash drives are also very secure ways to store information. Since they are not
connected to the Internet, they cannot be hacked, and some can be encrypted to
prevent unauthorized access. The one down side to this use is the possibility of the
flash drive being lost or stolen, but with proper precautions and organization, this
can be avoided. Flash drives also preserve data and documents in a non-volatile
state. As some specialized computers (such as theatre control boards) are prone to
crashes and glitches, saving information on a flash drives prevents is from being
corrupted or lost in the event of a system crash or other glitch. In simpler systems,
flash drives can be used as the central storage point for a computer. While this may
be inefficient on most machines, those that are single use and do not require large
amounts of memory can benefit from this, as the system is flexible, and more
memory space can be added as needed. However, the primary benefit of flash
drives remains the mobility. Flash drives are an inexpensive and more secure
alternative to the cloud and other means of Internet storage.

USB flash drive

USB drives are the perfect devices for transporting data and files. They are easy to
use and their portability makes them incredibly convenient. In addition to storing
files, they can also be used to run portable apps. Certain applications can be turned
into portable versions of themselves. You can have access to various software
applications to use on any computer. Free programs exist to convert applications to
portable ones to, in essence, create a portable PC on a thumb drive. USB drives
range in storage capacity from 2 GB to 256 GB. With 256 GB of storage in such a
portable size, the limits to their use are virtually endless.
USB drives can be password protected, or some can even be secured using
biometric features, like a finger print. There are some concerns related to USB drive
security. They can contain large amounts of information, and given their portability,
they can be used for transporting files secretly. Anyone with access can simply plug
a USB drive into a computer, copy files onto it, and remove them from the premises.
USB drives carry an additional security risk in that they can contain malware that
can be launched using AutoPlay as soon as they are plugged in.

Other Types of Storage Systems

Network Storage

Remote Storage
Remote storage is there to expand the disk space without hard disks and isnt
connected to the computer directly but accessed through internet. That way you can
access your files wherever you are, whenever you want, on your laptop or
Smartphone or even a different computer. This is the basic concept of cloud storage.
When you need to access a file, you open the file as usual but if the data isnt on
your local volume, Remote Storage retrieves the information from a media library.
When data is removed from a file, the logical size of the file remains but the physical
size is reduce. [22]
Being much faster and reliable than storage devices like CDs, DVDs, hard disks,
and flash drives, an online remote storage provides protection against system errors
like viruses, and enables one to recover lost data from any potential system crashes.
Being critical to not only businesses, but home computer users as well, an online
storage provides low-cost and easily accessible security for data management and
storage. To assure maximum security, many online companies automatically backup
systems on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, to an electronic vault. Also, unlike
CDs or DVDs, using remote storage diminishes its vulnerability to damage and data
loss. Living in todays high-tech society, the online remote storage system is
definitely a very essential, yet affordable tool to assure that the countless amounts of
data being saved on devices is still remediable after a computer failure. [23]
Holographic Storage

Holographic Data Storage

Holographic storage utilizes photo-sensitive media and innovative laser beam

technology as a means of computer storage. This is unlike previous methods of data
recording, such as magnetic and optical hard drives, which involve a rotating disk or
simple 2D lasers. Instead, holographic storage begins with a single laser that is split
into two separate parts -- the signal beam (carries data), and the reference beam
(reconstructs hologram when prompted). A spatial light modulator is used to encode
data for the signal beam, followed by a conversion of electronic data into binary
code. It is then arranged into a specific pattern of dark and light pixels (representing
zeros and ones), consisting of >1 million bits each. The signal and reference beams
intersect, and a holographic image is created through a 3D refraction that is etched
into the media. Advantages include a safe, fast, reliable, and portable system of
storage. Disadvantages include expense, limited capacity, and recording fails. Since
the concept is still in its infancy, however, problems are expected to diminish greatly
over time.
Network Attached Storage

NAS

NAS is a type of dedicated file storage device typically connected by a wired

networking connection, therefore only providing local area network users with
storage. NAS supports file transfers, in which it will back up any data that appears in
the form of files, such as email boxes, web content, remote system backups. The
main advantage of a network attached storage is that network storage is no longer
limited to the amount the computing device can hold. NAS devices typically look
very box-like, without a keyboard or display. NAS products come in levels of capable
storage space, drive capacity and drive scalability, often placed into one of 3
categories: Desktop NAS, devices aimed at small businesses and home users; Mid-
market NAS, devices capable of running several hundred terabytes but not
clustering; Enterprise NAS, devices that can store huge amounts of files, including
virtual images, and being able to NAS cluster.
NAS vs. SAN and Cloud Storage

Sharing via "The Cloud"

Both systems of storage serve different purposes for their clients. The main
difference between SAN storage and NAS storage is the way that the systems
interact with the network. A NAS network will behave in a way that makes it similar
to any other network component. In contrast, the storage devices of a SAN network
are found in a separate network but connected to the main one. Overall though, both
systems are used for storage and over time the performance offered by both is
becoming harder to distinguish. For example a SAN uses Fiber Channel
interconnects while NAS makes Ethernet and TCP/IP connects, but now many SAN
systems are switching over to those connection routes NAS systems use. [30]
Cloud storage, sometimes just called online storage, is simply the use of a remote
storage device that is accessed by means of the internet. Cloud storage has seen a
massive increase in popularity over the last few years, and the industry for it has
grown substantially to the point where there are now hundreds of companies that
offer a variety of cloud storage services. More specifically, some cloud services
focus only on digital pictures or email messages, while other systems store all kinds
of digital data. Some services, like Google Drive, allow users to save their files in
one of many massive data centers Google operates where, for instance, multiple
users can collaborate on projects by having access to the same file.[31]
As the clouds popularity is growing, more and more businesses are transferring
over to its storage capabilities. Many businesses are using the application as a
backup program for their software and documents. By scheduling a set time for the
computer to automatically transfer documents over, businesses can be sure that
their information lies safely in the hands of the Internet without having to spend the
tedious amount of time backing it up manually. Though the different applications of
the cloud do sometimes have a monthly fee to pay, it is a small price to pay for the
time and convenience it lends you. By utilizing these applications, anybody is able to
access their documents anywhere worldwide. An individual is no longer tied down to
just one electronic device in one set area, but can instead revise a version of a
document on their laptop and then pull it up at work for a presentation the next day.
This is just one example of the hundreds of ways that the application can be used
conveniently to meet your day-to-day needs. The cloud is connecting electronic
devices all across the globe and making every day processes just a little bit
easier. [32]

Cloud Services

Despite of the fact, that a Cloud storage term has appeared in use quite recently,
people and businesses actuality use online storages for a long time. For example
saving copies of letters on mail server or retrieving network configuration files from
TFTP server. These days Cloud storage term should be considered is one of many
other Cloud computing services. It could be provided as separate product
Storage-as-a-Service, and also be a part of others, for example: Infrastructure-as-
a-service, Platform-as-a-service or Software-as-a-service. As was mentioned above,
the rapidly growing popularity is primarily due to quite low cost for a service itself
(Storage-as-a-Service) when users pay only for the volume of data they stored, and
if we are talking about the Infrastructure or Platform services which are great
opportunity for business to reduce an IT expenses as well. With all advantages are
given by online storing, there are few things users should be aware deciding entrust
the care of their data to the provider. It might be as purely technical concerns
(reliable internet connectivity, providers backup algorithm, disaster recovery,
security of access, etc.) and legal aspects as well (ownership of data, jurisdiction,
rights to audit).
Smart Cards

Back of a smart card

A smart card is a credit card-sized piece of plastic that contains computer circuitry,
like a processor, memory, and storage. Smart cards can only store low amounts of
data, around 8 kilobytes of RAM or 346 kilobytes of ROM. The processor is actually
a microprocessor, and it is situated under a gold contact pad on one side of the
card. The processor in the card has the capability to encrypt the data so that only
authorized access is allowed. The purpose of a smart card is to store sensitive data
securely, usually identification or digital cash. Unlike a credit card where all of the
information on it can be read easily and identity theft is more common, the smart
card cannot be physically read and it puts up a difficult fight against a hacker trying
to access the data. To make it even more secure, some smart cards actually store
biometric data to even further ensure that only the correct user can use it. A smart
card is used by sliding it through, placing it in, or placing it in front of a smart card
reader. This allows for the smart card reader to interact with the smart card by
transferring the data on the card. An example of this is having a smart card reader
on a locked door. The authorized user, a government official, places their smart card
in front of the smart card reader on the door and the data on the card would be read
by the reader. Once the reader acknowledges that the government official is allowed
in, the reader would unlock the door and the official could walk in. All in all, the smart
card is a great new technology that is making transactions and equipment safer.

Large Computer Storage Systems

The original storage system for major company Wal-Mart

Major companies and organizations require large computer systems that can store
their massive amounts of data. The amount of data that the world needs to store is
growing at a phenomenal rate, predicted to increase by half in 2014 alone.
Regulations have been put in place by the government to make companies keep
data and information about clients and customers. This information is stored in the
same types of hardware that everyday consumers would use but on a much larger
scale. Many hard drives are connected and used together to increase the amount of
data that can be saved. A leader in the industry, IBM, is currently at work on the
largest storage server ever with an incredible 120 petabytes of space. This server is
going to be comprised of over 200,000 standard hard drives connected in a large
warehouse.[35] Some companies may also use a system called RAID, or redundant
arrays of independent disks. This method uses two or more hard drives which
contain redundant copies of the same data in order to process and access it faster.
This can be done one of two ways. The first method, disk striping, actually separates
and spreads the files out over multiple hard drives while the second method, disk
mirroring, has an exact duplicate of the information on the first.