Convergence in Broadcast and Communications Media

11Storage devices

 

 

11.1 Introduction

Digital technology depends heavily on reliable storage devices. A number of storage technologies co-exist because there is as yet no one ideal solution. Given the use of error correction to allow arbitrary reliability, the main ways of comparing storage devices are cost per bit and access time. These attributes are usually incompatible. The hard disk drive has evolved to provide rapid access whereas the rotary head tape has evolved to provide low-cost bulk storage. Technology will continue to advance, and as a result recording densities of all media will continue to increase, along with improvements in transfer rate. The relative merits of different media will stay the same; disks will always be faster ...