Chapter 7 - Key Terms

microfilm

A roll of film, usually 100 to 215 feet long, on which microscopic images of documents are stored.

microfiche

A small sheet of film, usually about 4 inches by 6 inches in size, on which microscopic images of documents are stored.

eSATA

Acronym for external SATA; hard disk interface that is much faster than USB and FireWire.

archive disc

CD that stores photos from an online photo center in jpg file format, usually at a maximum resolution of 7200 pixels per photo.

smart card

Card, similar in size to a credit card or ATM card, that stores data on a thin microprocessor embedded in the card.

platter

Component of a hard disk that is made of aluminum, glass, or ceramic and is coated with an alloy material that allows items to be recorded magnetically on its surface.

magnetic stripe card

Credit card, entertainment card, bank card, or other similar card, with a stripe that contains information identifying you and the card.

DVD+R

DVD-recordable format with up to 4.7 GB capacity that allows users to write on the disc once and read it many times.

DVD-R

DVD-recordable format with up to 4.7 GB capacity that allows users to write on the disc once and read it many times.

DVD-ROM drive

Device that can read a DVD-ROM. Most DVD-ROM drives also can read audio CDs, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs.

card reader/writer

Device that reads and writes data, instructions, and information stored on flash memory cards.

computer output microfilm recorder

Device that records images on microfilm and microfiche.

tape drive

Device used to read and write data and information on tape.

single-session disc

Disc on which manufacturers write all items at one time.

CD-ROM drive

Drive that can read CD-ROM discs and sometimes audio CDs.

CD-RW drive

Drive that can read audio CDs, standard CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and can write on, or record, CD-RWs.

backup

Duplicate of a file, program, or disk placed on a separate storage medium that can be used if the original is lost, damaged, or destroyed.

compact disc-rewritable

Erasable multisession optical disc on which users can write data, instructions, and information multiple times. See also CD-RW.

CD-RW

Erasable multisession optical disc on which users can write data, instructions, and information multiple times. See also compact disc-rewritable.

digital video disc-read-only memory

Extremely high capacity optical disc on which users can read, but not write or erase, that is capable of storing 4.7 GB to 17 GB of data. See also DVD-ROM; digital versatile disc-ROM; digital video disc-ROM.

digital versatile disc-read-only memory

Extremely high capacity optical disc on which users can read, but not write or erase, that is capable of storing 4.7 GB to 17 GB of data. See also DVD-ROM; digital versatile disc-ROM; digital video disc-ROM; digital video disc read-only memory.

thumb drive

Flash memory device that plugs in a USB port on a computer or portable device. See also USB flash drive.

GBps

Gigabytes per second.

SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)

Hard disk interface that uses serial signals to transfer data, instructions, and information and has transfer rates of up to 300 MBps and higher.

removable hard disk

Hard disk that can be inserted and removed from a drive.

storage device

Hardware used to record (write and/or read) items to and from storage media.

BD-R

High-capacity DVD-recordable format.

DVD-ROM

High-capacity optical disc on which users can read, but not write or erase. See also digital versatile disc-read-only memory and digital video disc-read-only memory.

BD-RE

High-capacity rewritable DVD format.

HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc)

High-density format that potentially will contain up to 20 layers, each with a capacity of 5 GB.

EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics)

Interface that uses parallel signals to transfer data, instructions, and information and can support up to four hard disks at 137 GB per disk.

cloud storage

Internet service that provides storage to computer users.

KBps

Kilobytes per second.

storage

Location in which data, instructions, and information are held for future use.

tape

Magnetically coated ribbon of plastic capable of storing large amounts of data and information at a low cost.

access time

Measures the amount of time it takes a processor or storage device to read or locate an item in memory or storage.

read/write head

Mechanism in a disk drive that reads items or writes items as it barely touches the disk's recording surface.

MBps

Megabytes per second.

Memory Stick Micro (M2)

Memory card capable of storing between 1 and 16 GB of data.

microSD

Memory card capable of storing between 1 and 2 GB of data.

microSDHC

Memory card capable of storing between 4 and 16 GB of data.

Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)

Memory card capable of storing between 4 and 32 GB of data.

CompactFlash (CF)

Memory card capable of storing between 512 MB and 100 GB of data.

Secure Digital (SD)

Memory card capable of storing between 512 MB and 8 GB of data.

disk cache

Memory chips on a hard disk that store frequently accessed items such as data, instructions, and information. Sometimes called a buffer.

compact disc-recordable

Multisession optical disc on which users can write, but not erase, their own items such as text, graphics, and audio. See also CD-R.

CD-R

Multisession optical disc on which users can write, but not erase, their own items such as text, graphics, and audio. See also compact disc-recordable.

fixed disk

Name sometimes given to the hard disk mounted inside a system unit.

track

Narrow recording band that forms a full circle on the surface of a disk.

SAS (serial-attached SCSI)

Newer type of SCSI that uses serial signals to transfer data, instructions, and information.

Blu-Ray Disc-ROM (BD-ROM)

Newer, expensive type of DVD with storage capacities of 100 GB, with expectations of exceeding 200 GB in the future.

density

Number of bits in an area on a storage medium.

capacity

Number of bytes a storage medium can hold.

multisession

Optical disc that can be written on more than once, allowing users to save additional data on the disc at a later time.

mini discs

Optical disc with a size of three inches or less used by smaller computers and devices.

ripping

Process of copying audio and/or video data from a purchased disc and saving it on digital media.

formatting

Process of dividing a disk into tracks and sectors so that the operating system can store and locate data and information on the disk.

reading

Process of transferring data, instructions, and information from a storage medium into memory.

burning

Process of writing on an optical disc.

jewel box

Protective case that is used to store optical discs when not in use.

RAID

Redundant array of independent disks; group of two or more integrated hard disks.

ExpressCard module

Removable flash memory device that can be used to add memory, storage, communications, multimedia, and security capabilities to a computer.

memory card

Removable flash memory device, usually no bigger than 1.5" in height or width, that you insert and remove from a slot in a computer, mobile device, or card reader/writer.

DVD+RAM (DVD+random access memory)

Rewritable DVD format with capacities up to 4.7 GB per side.

DVD+RW

Rewritable DVD format with capacities up to 4.7 GB per side.

DVD-RW

Rewritable DVD format with capacities up to 4.7 GB per side.

NAS

See network attached storage.

tape library

Separate cabinet for larger computers in which tape cartridges are mounted.

external hard disk

Separate freestanding hard disk that connects with a cable to a USB port or FireWire port on the system unit.

network attached storage

Server connected to a network with the sole purpose of providing storage. See also NAS.

Picture CD

Single-session CD-ROM that stores digital versions of film using a jpg file format at a lower resolution, typically 1024 x 1536 pixels.

SCSI

Small computer system interface.

tape cartridge

Small, rectangular, plastic housing for tape.

cluster

Smallest unit of disk space that stores data and information. See also allocation unit.

allocation unit

Smallest unit of disk space that stores data and information. See also cluster.

disk controller

Special-purpose chip and electronic circuits that control the transfer of data, instructions, and information between a disk and the system bus and other components in a computer.

solid state drive (SSD)

Storage device that typically uses flash memory to store data, instructions, and information.

longitudinal recording

Storage technique in which magnetic particles are aligned horizontally around the surface of the disk.

perpendicular recording

Storage technique in which magnetic particles are aligned vertically, or perpendicular to the disk's surface, making much greater storage capacities possible.

LightScribe technology

Technology used by some optical drives that can etch labels directly on a specially coated optical disc, as opposed to placing an adhesive label on the disc.

pocket hard drive

Term that refers to smaller external hard disks because they enable users easily to transport photos and other files from one computer to another.

form factor

Term that refers to the size of platters in a hard disk.

solid-state media

Term used to refer to components that consist entirely of electronic components, such as integrated circuits, and contain no moving parts.

portable

The capability of a storage medium to be removed from one computer and carried to another computer.

revolutions per minute (rpm)

The number of times per minute that a hard disk platter rotates.

secondary storage

The physical material on which a computer keeps data, instructions, and information.

storage medium

The physical material on which a computer keeps data, instructions, and information.

sectors

The small arcs into which tracks on a disk are divided.

transfer rate

The speed at which data, instructions, and information transfer to and from a device.

cylinder

The vertical section of a hard disk track that passes through all platters.

random access

Type of data access in which the storage device can locate a particular data item or file immediately, without having to move consecutively through items stored in front of the desired data item or file. See also direct access.

direct access

Type of data access in which the storage device can locate a particular data item or file immediately, without having to move consecutively through items stored in front of the desired data item or file. See also random access.

sequential access

Type of data access in which the storage device reads or writes data consecutively.

head crash

Type of hard disk failure that occurs when a read/write head touches the surface of a platter.

Memory Stick

Type of miniature mobile storage medium that is a memory card capable of storing between 1 and 16 GB of data.

compact disc read-only memory

Type of optical disc that uses laser technology to store data, instructions, and information that users can read but not write on or erase. See also CD-ROM.

CD-ROM

Type of optical disc that uses laser technology to store data, instructions, and information that users can read but not write on or erase. See also compact disc read-only memory.

hard disk

Type of storage device that contains one or more inflexible, circular platters that use magnetic particles to store data, instructions, and information. See also hard disk drive.

hard disk drive

Type of storage device that contains one or more inflexible, circular platters that use magnetic particles to store data, instructions, and information. See also hard disk.

optical disc

Type of storage medium that consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is written on and read by a laser.