The way data is stored has witnessed a significant upgrade over time. The evolution has advanced from the very initial idea of punch cards to modern data servers and cloud storage. The various methods of handling, storing, and facilitating data have significantly extended as the data turned enormous over time.
This article explores the shift in technologies whenever the data got too immense to fit the intended devices and methods of storage while maintaining cost-effective measures. The article explores the turning point where technology changed the way how data should be stored and accessed.
We will go through the evolution of Data Storage devices from early ages when the physical way to store the data was the only way to the current time where data are stored in the virtual cloud. We also look at the advantages of limitations of each of the devices along the way to get a clear idea about why and what was the need to make that change.
1. Punch Cards
Digital logic in the early days was germane and accurate but computing was not that complex. Thus, the earliest device to store the data was the punch cards. Punch cards as the names define, were paper cardboards over which hole punches were made to represent the piece of information. It was also known as the Hollerith Card. The punches were made in a certain position to show the presence and absence of bits. The cards were punched in rows and columns, thus creating a data storage format. Punch cards were commonly used in the 20th century for data input output and storage. The one that dominated the industry was IBM 12-row/80-column punch cards. The punches on the cardboard were made using a device known as Keypunch.
Advantage – The input and output through the data were quick and easy. It also stood out as a portable, and simple data storage and input method.
Limitation – Punch Card, although a very important method of data storage had limitations of storage capacity and one card – one use utility making it not so efficient method of data storage.
2. Magnetic Tapes
In the 19th and 20th centuries, we could not think of chips or anything like we do have in modern days. From the punch cards, our evolution went to magnetic tapes where the bit information rather than punches on the cardboard was incorporated into a magnetic reel/ magnetic tapes. The idea of rolling bit information along a long strip covered with magnetic particles went viral. The limitation of punch cards was resolved by this idea as the magnetic tapes provided enormous capacity and a rather quick access time. The magnetic tapes changed the era by storing massive amounts of data rolled in a brown reel.
Advantage – Its advantage was nothing but overcoming the limitation of punch cards. The storage grew enormous.
Limitation – The main disadvantage of the magnetic tape was damage upon physical handling, heat, water and magnetic field.
3. Hard Disk and Floppy Disk
Although these two things were physically totally different, the core idea of their evolution was the same. Hard Disk and Floppy Disk both had magnetic platters coated with magnetic materials. This particular evolution was a great breakthrough that inspired the evolution of many other storage devices. The architecture of Hardisk contained a spindle cord around which multiple disks in a stack rotated. An arm extended from the arm assembly touching the track of disks to perform read and write operations over the disk.
The first computer incorporated the first hard disk developed. But the idea of a disk gave birth to a floppy disk that was way more portable. The first floppy disk was released with a capacity of 80 kilobits, but then very soon it evolved into larger capacities with 1.44 MB being the standard size for any computer.
The compact disc was a revolution. It offered much more space if compared with floppy disks. The CD went on up to a standard size of 650 MB. With that, multimedia distribution reached its peak. The CDs further evolved enhancing its ability to write and rewrite.
Advantage – Harddisk had a very good scope in the future due to the idea of combining multiple discs. Floppy disks and compact discs were also way ahead of their era. The data suddenly started expanding with the capacity of the disc.
Limitations – Harddisks at that time used to be very big. The issue however seemed to resolve over time. The limitation of the floppy disks and CDs was its maintenance. The discs required to be kept very secure from physical dents and scratches.
4. Flash Storage
As time went by, the application of digital logic became way more complex giving birth to NAND-based flash storage. The development of these became possible with the metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). Flash memory was a non-volatile type of storage, meaning it didn’t require power to retain data in the storage. With its arrival, storing the data achieved another level of speed. The small size, faster data transfer, and high durability made it a very good alternative to any data storage disc.
Data storage and access drastically changed as a result of NAND and NOR-based flash storage devices. There was no rotating disc, no electricity required at all, not prone to any damage since data was stored on solid-state chips. It made the storage type dent-resistant and robust.
Advantages – The portability and maintenance issue was fixed and thus flash storage grabbed the market.
Limitation – It was not affordable at all for every consumer just as the CDs were.
5. SSDs (Solid State Drives)
Solid state drives further defined the modern era with a further revolutionaize data storage. SSDs empower most of the computers in trend. SSDs have become very popular due to their durability, higher speed of access, and reliability. They have very faster read and write time, thus enhancing the application loading, and improving the overall performance of the system. Most of the computers today boots on SSDs. SSDs have a lot of benefits over any of the mentioned storage above. It has become an enterprise-grade choice with storage options available in GBs and TBs. These are now a very standard storage type for any personal or professional use.
SSDs are based on the NAND flash memory where the data is stored in the form of electric charge inside either floating gate transistors or charge trap flash. A single memory cell in the NAND flash can hold one (in SLC) to 4 (in QLC) bits of data. The speed is higher and the latency is low in NVMe SSDs because of their direct connection with the system through the PCIe interface.
Advantage – SSDs are fast, reliable, and efficient.
Limitation – Prices for SSDs are higher than hard drives.
6. Cloud Storage and Beyond
Apart from SSDs, there is yet another revolution in data storage systems. With the advent of a faster bandwidth network, the idea of providing data storage is expanding. As we move into the future, SSDs and other faster storage systems are rooted to a spot on a large scale and their storage capability is shared over the internet as cloud storage. The enormous data yet expanding due to the Internet devices or Internet of things, and machine models demand an efficient storage solution. The idea of Cloud storage invites cutting-edge technology, considering the vast and enhanced networking in mind to create data centers to ensure accessibility and durability.
Advantages – Remove redundancy in data as the reading and writing are shielded by the provided. Cloud storage is cost-effective and the retrieval of data is quick and easy from any location throughout the world.
Limitations – Internet dependency, potential cost increase, and data privacy a major concerns when choosing a cloud storage.
Final Words
“Necessity is the mother of invention” is a well-said quote and the evolution of data storage is a good example of it. As the data grew huge, its accommodation was a necessity. Data storage has always been a major concern and will always be one, but as technology evolves, things will be adapted for sure as it has been till now.