Data Storage Technology

The Ever Changing World Of Data Storage Technology And How It Affects You 

As with everything that involves electronics and technology, change is always happening. No where is this more true than with data storage technology. Techniques that were used 20 years ago in business are now considered obsolete. Here is a quick look at how data storage technology has changed over the years and what it has meant to the business world.

Ever since the first master computers were born in the middle of the 20th century, the ability to save the data that was fed into the computers was apparent. Among the first types of storage devices were large reels of magnetic tape, that essentially recorded every bit of data that the computer used for operation. Often, this was backed up with paper documentation, since it would be many years before a majority of people were willing to rely on electronic devices for storage of many types of documents.

Big changes came with the advent of the desktop computer during the late 1970's. The concept of saving data on a small disk first began to take shape. The first of these disks were a lightweight plastic that would easily bend. While at the time, the capacity of each disk was considered to be cutting edge, many of them would only hold a small fraction of data compared to current methods. Still, they were easy to store and remained popular options for storing data well into the late 1980's.

Then, the granddaddy of change came about with the onset of the Internet. This meant even more data to process and store. With a demand for more efficient data storage technology, the concept of the old floppy had a makeover. Instead of a soft plastic casing, the new model sported a hard plastic shell and the ability to store much more data than the older models. Use of this type of data storage was common all through the remaining years of the 20th century and was still going strong as the New Millennium dawned.

As the demand for improved data storage technology continued, the concept of the musical compact disk inspired the creation of a similar data disk. These new CDR components were capable of storing far more data that the older disks, making it possible for both home and office applications to keep disks with huge amounts of information handy. Since 2000, the capacity of these CDR's has continued to increase, reflecting the demand for faster and higher volumes of storage needs.

As you can see, enormous changes have came about through the years with data storage technology. And with the evolution of technology you can bet that many more changes are in store for the coming years.