| No Mechanical Device needed (4 media) | ||||||
| Media Recorder (Hardware) | Media Player (Hardware) | Media Recording (Software) | Data | Picture | sound | When Acquired? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "na" | "na" | book | yes | yes | no | 1954 |
| crayon | "na" | paper | yes | no | no | 1954 |
| pen | "na" | paper | yes | no | no | 1955 |
| pencil | "na" | paper | yes | no | no | 1955 |
| Mechanical Device needed (4 media) | ||||||
| Media Recorder (Hardware) | Media Player (Hardware) | Media Recording (Software) | Data | Picture | sound | When Acquired? |
| Typewriter | none / unaided eye | Paper | yes | no | no | 1955 |
| "na" | victrola | 78 RPM Record | no | no | yes | 1955 |
| 35 MM Camera | "na" | Photograph | no | yes | no | 1962 |
| APF Camera | "na" | Photograph | no | yes | no | 1962 |
| Mechanical / Electrical (5 media) | ||||||
| Media Recorder (Hardware) | Media Player (Hardware) | Media Recording (Software) | Data | Picture | sound | When Acquired? |
| "na" | turntable | 33 1/3 Record | no | no | yes | 1960 |
| "na" | turntable | 45 RPM Record | no | no | yes | 1962 |
| 35 MM Camera | slide projector | Slide | no | yes | no | 1967 |
| "na" | Television | "na" | no | yes | yes | 1962 |
| "na" | Radio | "na" | no | no | yes | 1962 |
| Mechanical / Electrical /Analog (4 media) | ||||||
| Media Recorder (Hardware) | Media Player (Hardware) | Media Recording (Software) | Data | Picture | sound | When Acquired? |
| Reel to Reel Tape Recorder | Reel to Reel Tape Player | Reel tape | no | no | yes | 1962 |
| Cassette tape Recorder | Cassette tape Player | CassetteTape | no | no | yes | 1962 |
| Video Tape Recorder | TV and Video Tape Player | Video Tape | no | yes | yes | 1962 |
| MiniCassette tape recorder | Mini
Cassette tape Player | Mini Cassette Tape | no | no | yes | 1962 |
| Mechanical / Electrical /Digital (11 media) | ||||||
| Media Recorder (Hardware) | Media Player (Hardware) | Media Recording (Software) | Data | Picture | sound | When Acquired? |
| Floppy disk Drive | Floppy disk Drive | Floppy Disks | yes | yes | yes | 1988 |
| Hard disk Drive | Hard disk Drive | Hard Disks | yes | yes | yes | 1990 |
| Compact disk Drive | Compact disk Drive | Compact Disks | yes | yes | yes | 1994 |
| none | Music CD Player | Music CD | no | no | yes | 1992 |
| Zip disk Drive | Zip disk Drive | Zip Disks | yes | yes | yes | 1994 |
| none | Internal ROM | Internal ROM | yes | no | no | 1990 |
| none | DVD Drive/ DVD Player | DVD | no | yes | yes | 1994 |
| MP3 Recorder | MP3 Player | Flash/ Smart Media |
no | no | yes | 2001 |
| Digital Camera | Camera/ Computer | Smart Media | no | yes | no | 2001 |
| Digital Tape Recorder | TV and Digital Tape Player | Video Tape | no | yes | yes | 1962 |