Memory Card

Unlike physically larger storage solutions such as a hard drive that uses magnetic disks, the memory card uses solid-state memory technology known as Flash. This means that there are no moving parts in memory cards. It is this quality that allows its extremely reliable portability. Although there are other methods of data or information storage, none are able to compare to the versatility and convenience that flash memory provides.

This technology subsequently allows a memory card to be much smaller and lighter than hard drives. A typical memory card, for example, has a mass of just a few grams; the heaviest being just 4 grams. As for the dimensions, lengths range from 11 mm to 50 mm; widths are from 12.5 mm to 43 mm; and thickness are from 0.76 mm to 5 mm. These are all much smaller than any other storage medium.

Back in 1994, the first flash based data storage device for portable gadgets was launched. This was created by ScanDisk, and the product was called CompactFlash. Over the next decade, both manufacturers and consumers saw the great advantages of memory cards. As such, different brands have been developed by different companies. Some of these are Toshiba’s SmartMedia; Siemens and ScanDisk’s MultiMediaCard; Sony and ScanDisk’s Memory Stick; and Panasonic, ScanDisk, and Toshiba’s Secure Digital.