Computers can store Information, and wipe it for what must be like forever. but I don‘t understand, information has to be stored on something physical, wouldn‘t that physical storage device become brittle over time?
A computer is a general purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence of operations can be readily changed, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem. Conventionally, a computer consists of at least one processing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU) and some form of memory. The processing element carries out arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit that can change the order of operations based on stored information. Peripheral devices allow information to be retrieved from an external source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved. The first electronic digital computers were developed between 1940 and 1945 in the United Kingdom and United States. Originally they were the size of a large room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern personal computers (PCs).[1] In this era mechanical analog computers were used for military applications.
All information is stored on your hard drive. Your operating system, your information, music, pictures, videos, documents etc. All of it is binary code(0's and 1's separated magnetically), basically there is a binary code for all characters on your keyboard, this will translate ultimately into programs you and I can understand. So if you want a letter a or A you have to have the binary code to represent the letter, so the same thing applies if you want a space, etc Of course along the line this code become commands and sooner you know you can open files, programs and finally point to links to open your digital media. You are right after a while your hard drive is bound to give up and by that I mean stop working. All devices with moving parts or electrical(usb external memory) sooner or later have to brake down. My best recommendation is that you save your precious information on dvds, the reason is that a dvd holds just about 5 times more information than a cd.
