Data storage has gone through quite an evolution over the years, with its history going back to the 18th century. In recent years, technology has improved at record speed, leading to the development of more modern storage options. Hard drives are now one of the most common portable storage devices, and they’ve gone through quite a transformation on their own.
Hard drives, also known as hard disk drives (HDDs), were developed by IBM and dominated the market for nearly 30 years. IBM identified a need for this type of technology in 1953, leading to the invention of the first hard drive. The first model was produced in IBM’s laboratory in San Jose, California and patented in 1956.
Since then, hard drive technology has changed to meet commercial needs, becoming much easier to use. External hard disk drives that were once the size of refrigerator units are now merely inches long and can store several terabytes of data.
External hard drives are a great way to back up, protect, and transport critical business files. They can be one of the best hardware solutions for storing large amounts of data and ensuring that you have a foolproof disaster recovery plan.
While the external hard drive might eventually be replaced by cloud storage and backup, portable hard drives (and hard drive technology overall) has certainly changed since 1953.
The First External Hard Drive
The initial IBM hard drives are considered external data storage devices because they did not run internally within the computer units. IBM engineer Reynold B. Johnson is the individual who came up with the idea of the external hard drive. Johnson’s first external hard drive, the IBM 350 Disk File, supported the IBM 305 RAMAC computer system.
This hard drive system was introduced on September 13, 1956. These hard drives were huge units that contained several “platters” inside to store computer data. Stored in air-controlled rooms, the hard drives were placed side-by-side. They complemented the tape storage solutions for their servers.
Transitioning to Internal Hard Drives
Apple first introduced the concept of the personal computer in the 1980s, with Microsoft quickly following suit. These computers generally contained internal hard drive disks or a complicated incarnation of an external hard drive.
These systems were limited as to the amount of computer data storage they allowed and were not considered user-friendly. In 1983, Apple introduced the ProFile external hard drive. This early representation of the external thumb and hard drives known today plugged into the back of Apple units.
Apple’s creation failed to take off, and computer companies switched to an internal hard drive interface. This technology was the primary hard disk drive technology used throughout the remaining 1980s and the early 1990s.
Internal hard disk drives were later revamped to increase storage space. If a user needed more space, he or she would simply replace the internal drive in their computer with one that held more data. It wasn’t until 1994 that the external hard drive once again took center stage.
Modern External Hard Drives
Reynold B. Johnson’s original external hard drive concepts took on a new form within the computer industry in 1994. Universal Serial Bus, or USB, technology was introduced in 1994 by seven technology giants. The technology companies behind USB technology were: Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC and Nortel. These companies collectively invented the external hard drive technology that we understand today, and external hard drives come in two primary forms.
USB Flash Drives
The USB was the first flash drive. Also known as a “thumb drive,” it’s an external hard drive that plugs into a computer’s USB port. These portable storage devices are only inches long, and the person who actually came up with the idea is controversial.
It is argued that the first flash drive was the brainchild of Amir Ban, Dov Moran and Oron Ogdan from M-Systems, an Israeli company. However, their April 1999 patent requires a cable connection. IBM engineer Shimon Shmueli patented a cable-free USB flash drive in September 1999.
Phison Electronics Corporation CEO Pua Khein-Seng also claims to have invented the world’s first USB flash drive, so the person who came up with the idea of this external hard drive remains under debate.
Portable External Hard Drives
The external hard drive is another external form of portable storage device that has become popular in the 21st century. This storage device is much smaller than Reynold’s original hard disk drive, mirroring the size of a desktop unit’s internal hard drive.
These drives are rectangular in shape and are approximately one inch by four inches by four inches, although sizes do vary and technology companies are working to reduce sizes. These portable storage devices also plug into a computer’s USB port, and are manufactured by several technology companies, including HP, Seagate and Toshiba.
Securely Store Your Data With Record Nations
Although they’re smaller and easier to use than they’ve ever been, it’s not wise to rely on an external data storage device as your sole backup solution. Whether you’re looking for a cloud backup strategy or a better way to store your documents offsite, Record Nations can help you find the right service for your needs.
Record Nations works with a team of professionals that provide reliable online data backup solutions for your business. In addition to online backup services, we can help you convert your paper records to digital copies by scanning the documents for you. Our cloud storage services will keep your records safe and easy to access, and our document management systems provide support for the full document lifecycle.
Learn how our data and document management solutions can help you by contacting us for a free quote today! To get started, fill out the form to the right, or give our experts a call at (866) 385-3706. Our team will help you find the right solution for your business.
