Page 295 - Data Architecture

Chapter 8.1: A Brief History of Data Architecture

Fig. 8.1.2 The physical dimension of data architecture.

The beginning of the computer industry harks back to paper tape and punched cards. In
the very earliest days, data were stored by means of paper tape and punched cards. The
value of paper tape and punched cards was that it was easy to create storage. But there
were many problems with paper tape and cards. Hollerith punched cards were fixed
format only (everything was stored in 80 columns). Cards were dropped and soiled. Cards
could not be repunched. And all things considered cards were expensive.

Only so much data could be stored on cards. Very quickly, an alternative to punched
cards was needed.

Fig. 8.1.3 shows that punched cards and paper tape were early storage mechanisms for
data.

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