In 2022, despite the advancement of technology, the 1.44MB floppy disk thrives, thanks to the demand from airlines.

Buzz

Before the era of SSDs, USB drives, or even CDs and DVDs, the dominant storage format in the tech world was the 1.44 MB floppy disk, affectionately known as the floppy. One might think that nobody uses this inconvenient and low-capacity format anymore. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Take, for example, . Many organizations still rely on floppy disks and hard drives for data storage, and many of them have yet to complete the transition to cloud servers.Meanwhile, in the United States, one of the last remaining vendors of floppy disks has stated that there is still market demand. Tom Persky, the founder of floppydisk.com, has recently published a book describing the current customers who still require the services of floppy disks. It turns out that floppydisk.com still has many clients, most of whom are partners in various crucial industries.

He writes:

“Imagine you're living in 1990, and you're building an industrial-sized system. You design it to operate flawlessly for 50 years, and you'd want to apply the best technology available at that time.” And the best, most common storage technology of the 90s was the floppy disk.According to Persky, his closest customers are partners in the medical field, with machines serving human healthcare designed and manufactured decades ago, still in need of floppy disks to update the latest firmware for the system. Some others are antique enthusiasts, with individuals buying dozens of floppy disks for storage. But most notably are the airlines, operating expensive aircraft produced decades ago.

According to Persky, airlines make up a significant proportion of floppydisk.com's total revenue. In his book, he writes: “Take the aviation industry for example. Perhaps half of the aircraft operating worldwide are over 20 years old and still use floppy disks to operate electronic systems for navigation or communication on each flight. That's a massive customer base.” Let's do some math. In 2020, just considering the total number of commercial aircraft operated by US airlines alone reached 7,690, and imagine how huge that number is when accounting for all other airlines worldwide.Mr. Persky believes that floppy disks won't become extinct in the near future, as they still play a crucial role in many vital industries worldwide, despite being technologically outdated and surpassed by other data storage standards in both capacity and size.Returning to Japan, the country's digital transformation minister, Mr. Taro Kono, recently proposed amending laws to mandate all businesses and organizations to abandon the use of floppy disks and CDs, in favor of digital data storage formats, facilitating easier management.According to Techspot

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Frequently Asked Questions

What industries still rely on floppy disks for data storage?

Floppy disks continue to be utilized in several industries, notably the medical field, aviation, and by antique enthusiasts. Many machines in healthcare require floppy disks for firmware updates, while older aircraft systems still depend on floppy disks for navigation and communication, representing a significant customer base.

Why do some organizations resist transitioning from floppy disks?

Many organizations resist moving away from floppy disks due to the longevity of their systems designed decades ago, which were built using the best technology of that time. Additionally, the high cost of replacing or upgrading these systems may deter businesses from transitioning to modern data storage solutions.

Is there still market demand for floppy disks today?

Yes, there is still market demand for floppy disks today, especially from sectors like aviation and healthcare. Companies like floppydisk.com report a steady customer base, as numerous older systems still rely on this outdated technology for crucial operations, ensuring floppy disks remain in use.

What challenges do organizations face when abandoning floppy disks?

Organizations face several challenges when abandoning floppy disks, including the need to upgrade or replace legacy systems that rely on outdated technology. Additionally, there may be legal or regulatory hurdles, particularly in industries like aviation and healthcare, where compliance is critical.