Storage
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CD-ROM, or Compact Disc Read Only Memory, is an optical information system that uses a
laser device to imprint microscopic pits into the compact disc. These pits are read as binary signals that
determine whether the signal is alphanumeric, images, audio, and/or video.
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Audio compact disc, developed in 1980, is the forerunner of CD-ROM (data) technology.
The CD-ROM came into existence in 1984. Initially prominent in the publishing industry, CD-ROM gained a
foothold in general business applications during the latter part of 1990. CD-ROM has been developed,
manufactured, and formatted under the specifications of the International Standards Organization (ISO) standard
number ISO-9660. This has proven to be a winning issue in optical technology developments, as it is the only format
that has guaranteed both forward and backward compatibility.
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Each disc is 4.75 inches and is able to store up to 650 MB of data. This capacity is
equivalent to approximately 200,000 to 2 million pages of electronic data or replacing a full, four-drawer filing
cabinet of paper with a single CD. The projected useful life of a CD is longer than that of paper or
microfilm/fiche. In addition, users eliminate the degradation of other media by storing the information
digitally. There is infinite preservation of data in its original quality and form because CDs can be refreshed or
duplicated as needed.
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Even as technology advances, the data storage media is not limited to the CD-ROM.
CD-COM Systems Midwest, Inc. is committed to utilizing the best available technology, and our systems are
developed to be transportable and media-independent.
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