Optical Disks and Data Storage

by: jameswalsh
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Word Count: 761

There is hardly any office or home today which does not have these devices to browse the Internet, send emails, write letters and use specialised software to achieve a lot in less time.

The data that is generated by the digital machines is nothing but a string of zeros and ones. This is stored on some kind of storage media as magnetic patterns, electric charge or pattern of pits on a data-recording surface. Most of this data is volatile and unstable. That is, it can be easily destroyed due to a variety of reasons such as user error, accidental deletion of files, software corruption, physical damage to the media and so on.

Data residing on computers, laptops, MP3 players and digital cameras represents a lot of work and effort by the users. Its loss can be a tremendous setback. Thus it is very important to regularly keep a backup of important data. When data loss occurs unexpectedly, one can immediately recopy it from the backup and thus be saved a lot of frustration.

Traditionally, businesses have been storing their data on tape drives. These are nothing but a ream of magnetic tape enclosed inside a plastic case. All data is stored on the tape in the form of magnetic imprints. However, these drives have a very high capacity and do not give random access to data. Due to this, extracting any data file from a tape drive is a time-consuming process, making it unsuitable for the needs of individual computer users. The latter have until a few years back been using floppy drives for storing their data. These drives give random data access and are quite light in weight. However, they suffer from very low capacities of not more than 1.4 MB each.

Just when users were wondering if there can be such a device that combines high capacities with random access, news came that optical disks have been invented. These disks are wonderful inventions. They are made of tough polycarbonate plastic that is quite sturdy. It is not fragile at all and you have to apply a lot of pressure to cause any damage to it.

These disks store data on one side of their surface in a pattern of pits. This pattern is read by laser (hence the name “optical disks”) that bounces off the surface and transmits information back to the computer. The operating system than converts this pattern of pits back into meaningful data.

Optical disks are of two types – compact disks (CDs) and digital video disks (DVDs). The CDs were invented first. When they were introduced, they created a revolution in the data-storage market. Suddenly, people had access to something quite small that offered instant random access and could hold a whopping 700 MB of data (which translated into 80 minutes of non-stop audio).

The music and film industries discarded their magnetic-tape cassettes overnight and switched to CDs for delivering their content to customers. CD audio and video players sold like hot cakes. Soon, CDs were adapted to storing computer data too and CD drives in desktops and laptops became common. The real breakthrough came when rewritable CDs were invented. Now, computer users had an ideal storage media that could be used for taking data backups. Very quickly, CDs became industry standard as the backup media of choice and for transferring data from one computer to another.

However, as the processors became more powerful over time, they began to handle more and more complex software that offered higher functionality than before. Due to this, data files became heavier and the 700 MB capacity of CDs – that seemed awesome just a few years earlier – began to look quite inadequate.

This problem was solved by a new version of optical disks – DVDs. These have 4.6 GB of data storage and can easily hold entire magazines, books and even full-length movies, while still having room to spare. Rewritable DVDs are now quickly becoming industry standard for storing and transferring data. These are about eight times more expensive than CDs, but they also offer about seven times more data capacity. CDs still remain in fashion for individual users whose data storage needs are not huge and who do not went to spend so much on a DVD.

Optical disks have truly changed the way we use removable storage media for our data backup needs. These require just a little amount of care in terms of handling and ensuring that their surface remains free of scratches. If handled properly, they can last for years, storing your data safely and securely.

About the Author

James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk

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