4.2.13

Optical Storage

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How Optical Storage Works

Optical storage uses laser light to retrieve data from the surface of optical media. Optical storage is often used to deliver multimedia content such as video.

Illustrative background for Storing a bitIllustrative background for Storing a bit ?? "content

Storing a bit

  • Each 1 or 0 (value of a bit) is represented as a microscopic hole (called a pit) or a flat surface (called a land) on the surface of the disk.
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Accessing data

  • A laser is shone on the disk surface.
  • If the laser hits a land, it will be reflected into a sensor.
  • If the laser hits a pit, then it will be reflected elsewhere.
  • These can be used to represent our 1 and 0.

Jump to other topics

1Problem Solving

2Programming

3Data

4Computers

5Communication & The Internet

6The Bigger Picture

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