recording medium
Let an agent explain recording media and their types, help choose media for storage and backup, describe longevity and preservation, and identify specific devices and technologies with sources.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain recording media and their types, help choose media for storage and backup, describe longevity and preservation, and identify specific devices and technologies with sources.
A physical medium or device on which information is recorded and stored for later retrieval, from magnetic tape, discs and hard drives to optical discs, flash memory, memory cartridges, network-attached storage and emerging technologies such as 3D XPoint; recording media differ in capacity, speed, durability and longevity and are chosen for use in computing, audio, video and archives.
What it is for: Media for storing recorded information.
It can be explain media types; help choose storage and backup media; describe longevity and preservation; identify specific devices.
Distinguishing features
Physical storage
Technology families
Capacity and speed
Longevity varies
What it looks like
Tapes, discs, drives, cards and network storage units.
How it is recognised
Stores recorded information physically
Magnetic, optical or solid-state
A file format is a logical structure, not a medium
Related models
is a kind of - category
is a kind of - category
is related to - storage peripherals
is related to - recorded images
In practice
Families and kinds
magnetic media such as tape and hard drives
optical discs
solid-state and flash media
network-attached and cloud-backed storage devices
historical and specialised media such as cartridges
Standards and regulation
Storage interface and format standards
Archival longevity standards
Data protection rules for stored personal data
Failure modes and hazards
Media failure and data loss
Obsolescence of formats and readers
Improper disposal exposing data
Also called
+69
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Choose Choosing media.
Practice.
Select
Selecting storage.
Select
Selection.
- Which recording medium suits this need for capacity, speed, cost and longevity, and how should backups be arranged? action
- What is network-attached storage and when is it useful? definition
Specific
A specific device.
Specific
Specific device.
- What is this storage device or technology, and what are its specifications, according to the manufacturer? provenance
- Which entry fits it? action
Technology How media work.
Engineering.
Types
Magnetic, optical, solid-state.
Types
Types.
- How do magnetic, optical and solid-state media record and read data, and how do they compare? definition
- What are emerging technologies such as 3D XPoint? provenance
Performance
Performance and reliability.
Performance
Performance.
- How are capacity, speed and reliability measured, and what failure rates are documented? provenance
- How is data integrity checked? action
Preserve Longevity and preservation.
Archives.
Longevity
Media longevity.
Longevity
Longevity.
- How long do different media last, and how should they be stored and migrated for preservation? provenance
- Which archival standards apply? provenance
Obsolete
Obsolete media.
Obsolete
Obsolescence.
- How can data on obsolete media such as old tapes and cartridges be recovered? provenance
- Which services and communities help? provenance
Security Security and disposal.
Practice.
Security
Protecting stored data.
Security
Security.
- How should stored data be encrypted and protected, and which data protection rules apply? provenance
- How are network storage devices secured? action
Disposal
Disposal.
Disposal
Disposal.
- How should recording media be wiped and disposed of or recycled securely? provenance
- Which entry fits electronic waste? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should each media type be a separate entry?
- How should archival guidance be linked?
- How should device databases be linked?