Magnetic Media TechnologyPresentation by – Mritunjay Sharma

What is Magnetic Media?

Magnetic storage or magnetic recording is the storage of data on a magnetised medium.

Magnetic storage uses different patterns of magnetisation in a magnetisable material to store data and is a form of non-volatile memory.

History

Magnetic storage in the form of wire recording—audio recording on a wire— was publicized by Oberlin Smith in the Sept 8, 1888 issue of the Electrical World.

The first publicly demonstrated  magnetic recorder was invented by Valdemar Poulsen in 1898.

Poulsen‘s device recorded a signal on a wire wrapped around a drum. In 1928, Fritz Pfleumer developed the first magnetic tape recorder. In old computers, magnetic storage was also used for primary storage. But unlike in modern computer the magnetic storage is used for

secondary storage.

Types of Magnetic media?

There are 3 types of magnetic media storage : -

1. Hard Drive

2. Floppy Disk

3. Tapes

HARD DRIVE

A hard disk drive (HDD),  hard drive  is a data storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information using one or more rigid rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material.

The platters are paired with magnetic heads arranged on a moving actuator arm, which read and write data to the platter surfaces.

HDDs are a type of non-volatile memory, retaining stored data even when powered off

Feature of Hard Drive

1. Cost - 2. Capacity3. Size4. Speed5. Moving Parts

Floppy Disk

A floppy disk, is a type of disk storage composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic enclosure lined with fabric that removes dust particles.

Floppy disks, initially as 8-inch (200 mm) media and later in 5¼-inch (133 mm) and 3½-inch (90 mm) sizes, were a ubiquitous form of data storage and exchange from the mid-1970s into the late 2000s.

Advantages and Disadvantages of floppy disk

Advantages : - 1) Floppies are cheap and can be used many many times

2)Floppies are easy to transport and handle

Disadvantages : -

1)Floppies don't have much storage capacity2)Floppies can get affected by heat3)They have to handle more carefully

Magnetic Tapes

Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording, made of a thin, magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plastic film.

 It was developed in Germany, based on magnetic wire recording.

Devices that record and play back audio and video using magnetic tape are tape recorders and video tape recorders.

A device that stores computer data on magnetic tape is a tape drive.

Advantages of magnetic tape

A single magnetic tape cartridge can store large amounts of data up to 1 Terabyte. Large cartridges are used by big companies and institutions that require continuous recording and backup of data.

Data collection can go on without interruption overnight or for an entire weekend. Magnetic tape can be recorded over and reused repeatedly.

Magnetic tape is inexpensive and budget friendly.

Large amounts of information is stored.

Disadvantages of magnetic tape

Special equipment must be purchased and set up for recording and storing data. The data can only be read on the special equipment.

If the data is stored near a strong magnetic field or a large speaker, the tape can be damaged.

Magnetic tape has a lifespan of 15 years. Data quality gradually erodes over time.

It is necessary to keep older tape equipment just to be able to read the stored data.