Mechanical and Other Unusual Media

Punched Cards

Punched cards are among the oldest computer data-storage media, with their origins going back to Herman Hollerith's system for processing the 1890 US Census. Each card stored information as a pattern of holes, and millions of cards were later used every day for data processing, programming and record keeping.

Punched Tapes

Punched paper tape stored information as patterns of holes along a continuous strip of paper. It was used for telegraphy from the 19th century and later became an important way of storing programs and data in early computers and minicomputers; unlike magnetic media, an old tape can sometimes still be read simply by looking at its holes.

Floppy ROM

Floppy ROM was an unusual way of distributing computer software using a flexible vinyl record, similar to a flexi-disc. Computer data was encoded as an audio signal in the grooves and could be played back on a turntable or cassette player, allowing the computer to load the program through its audio input. First introduced in 1977, Floppy ROMs were occasionally distributed with computer magazines and remained in use into the 1980s.

LaserCard

LaserCard was an optical data-storage card designed to provide a large amount of information in a credit-card-sized medium. It could store few MB of data. A laser was used to read microscopic data patterns stored inside the card. Written data could be read multiple times, but not erased or re-written anymore (WORM).

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