STSE X STEM (S1–S3)STSE X STEM (S1–S3)重用硬碟機和以DNA取代硬碟機Reusing hard disk and Replacing it with DNA
學習技能：Learning skill:
DIYDIY
讀寫Read and Write
邏輯思考Logical thinking
前言Introduction
硬碟機一直以來都用作儲存電腦內的數據，包括文字檔案、相片和影片等。然而，使用硬碟機會帶來一些問題。
首先，人們近年對數據儲存量的需求持續上升，用來製作硬碟機的稀有金屬則愈來愈少。更重要的是，被棄置的硬碟機會對環境造成一定的破壞。
在這個活動，我們將會探究更多重用硬碟機的方法，並會了解如何以DNA這種嶄新方法來儲存電子數據！
Hard disks have been used for storing digital files in computers for a long time. However, there are some concerns relating to the use of hard disks.
Firstly, the demand for storage capacity keeps increasing. Secondly, the metals used in making hard disks are rare. Most importantly, the disposal of hard disks also causes many environmental problems.
In this project, we are going to reuse old hard disks to make useful items. We are also going to explore an innovative method to store digital files—using DNA!
使用硬碟機帶來的問題Problems related to the use of hard disks
第一部分—人們對硬碟機的需求有甚麼變化？Part I — How has the demand for hard disks changed?
The graph below shows the average storage capacity of a computer during 2001–2018. Storage capacity is represented in the unit of Gigabytes (GB).
下圖顯示了2001–2018年間電腦的平均數據容量，它的單位以「Gigabytes」（GB）表示。
1.
What is the average storage capacity of a computer in 2017?
2.
計算2013–2018 年間電腦的平均數據容量上升的百分比。
Calculate the percentage increase of the average storage capacity of a computer from 2013 to 2018.
3.
從上圖推斷2001–2018 年間人們對硬碟機的需求趨勢。
Deduce from the graph that the trend of the demand for hard disks during 2001-2018.
第二部分—使用硬碟機引致的環境問題Part II — Environmental problems associated with the use of hard disks
硬碟機由甚麼製造？What are hard disks made of?
硬碟機堅固的金屬磁盤由鋁製成。由於純鋁與空氣接觸時，很容易被腐蝕，因此鋁的表面一般會以鈷這種金屬來覆蓋，而鈷帶輕微毒性。磁盤的兩面則塗有一些珍貴的稀有金屬如鉑、鈀和釹等。
Hard disks are rigid platters which are made of aluminium. However, the pure form of aluminium can be corroded easily when it is in contact with air. Therefore, they are always coated with cobalt, a slightly toxic metal. Both sides of the platters are coated with rare and precious metals such as platinum, palladium and neodymium.
1.
What are the possible environmental and economic problems associated with the disposal of hard disks?
2.
子珊正在和同學討論。她所說的話正確嗎？試加以解釋。
金屬可直接從地球的地殼取得，它們分解所需的時間較其他合成物如塑膠短。因此把它們棄置在堆填區並不會縮短堆填區的壽命。
Susan is discussing with her classmates. Is what she said correct or not? Explain your answer.
Metals are extracted from the Earth crust so they take a shorter time than plastic bags to decompose in landfills. Dispose of them will not shorten the lifespan of landfills.
3.
Suggest TWO ways to deal with the hard disks no longer in use.
把舊硬碟機改裝成時鐘Turning an old hard disk into a clock
難度﹕Difficulty:
★ ★ ★
時間﹕Time:
1 節課1 lesson
步驟Procedures
1. 用螺絲批打開一個舊硬碟機。
1. Open an old hard disk with a screwdriver.
2. 這是硬碟機的內部結構。
2. This is the inner part of the hard disk.
3. 移除硬碟機內部的所有部件。
3. Remove all the components inside.
4. 我們現在有一個「空」的硬碟機。
4. We get an ‘empty’ hard disk now.
5. 在移除的「碟片」上貼上打印的數字。
5. Print and stick some clock readings on the removed ‘disc’ of the hard disk.
6. 取得一個舊鬧鐘的移動部件及指針。
6. From an old quartz clock, obtain the moving part and the hands.
7. 用熱熔膠槍把移動部件固定在硬碟機上。
7. Use a hot glue gun to stick the moving part to the 'empty' hard disk.
8. 放回「碟片」並固定各指針。你已製成一個時鐘！
8. Put the ‘disc’ back and fix the hands. We have now made a clock!
把舊硬碟機改裝成喇叭Turning an old hard disk into a speaker
難度﹕Difficulty:
★ ★ ★ ★
時間﹕Time:
2 節課2 lessons
步驟Procedures
1. 用螺絲批打開一個舊硬碟機。
1. Open an old hard disk with a screwdriver.
2. 把硬碟機的「存取臂」取出。
2. Remove the read/write arm from the hard disk.
3. 找出「存取臂」上的兩個焊接點。
3. Find the two solder points of the arm.
4. 找一條舊耳機線，並把銅線兩端的塗層移除。
4. Find an old earphone wire and remove the coating on its two ends.
5. 小心地把耳機銅線的其中一端（有兩部分）焊接在兩個焊接點上。
5. Carefully solder one end of the wire (with two parts) to the two solder points.
6. 我們已把耳機線連接至「存取臂」。
6. We have now connected the earphone wire to the arm of the hard disk.
7. 把「存取臂」放回硬碟機。接着把硬碟機連接至放大器。
7. Place the arm back. Then connect the other end of the wire to an amplifier.
8. 把音頻輸入（如電話）連接至放大器。硬碟機現已變成一個喇叭！
8. Connect an audio input to the amplifier. The hard disk has become a speaker!
使用DNA儲存數據Using DNA as data storage
基本資料Background information
The demand for larger digital information storage is becoming higher and the present digital information storage devices can no longer meet this demand. DNA storage technology might be a possible solution to meet our future data storage needs.
DNA storage devices can archive and retrieve various file formats and file sizes. A huge number of images, videos and recordings can be archived in just a DNA strand. The flow chart below shows the process of how it is done.
我們對數據儲存量的需求很大，在不久的將來，現存的硬碟機或不足以滿足我們的需求。DNA 儲存數據技術可能是解決此問題的一個方法。
DNA 儲存數據技術是指利用一串DNA 來儲存大量的電子檔案，包括相片、影片、聲音檔等。下圖顯示利用DNA 儲存數據的流程。
When DNA is successfully used to store digital files, the future challenge will be how to use it in the most efficient way. More investments and investigations are still required to make DNA-based data storage a practical solution in the future.
科學家已成功利用DNA 作數據儲存，未來的挑戰將會是如何以最有效率的方法將數據儲存在DNA 內，使DNA 儲存技術變得實際可行，以解決我們對數據儲存量的需求。這將需要進一步的投資與研究。
Kahoot！「影片測驗」‘Video Quiz’ on Kahoot!
Let’s watch a video to learn more about the technology of DNA storage and finish a quiz on Kahoot!
觀看一段有關DNA 儲存數據技術的影片，並在Kahoot!上完成測驗。
用DNA取代硬碟機（編碼遊戲）Replacing hard disk with DNA (coding game)
遊戲指示Game instructions
把全班分成10 組進行遊戲，以模擬用DNA 儲存數據的編碼和解碼過程。
Divide the class into 10 groups. Hold a game which simulates the encoding and decoding process in DNA storage technology.
遊戲1（編碼）
Game 1 - Encoding
- 利用第11頁「二進制編碼轉換表」的文字（英文字母、數字、符號），寫出一個簡短信息（10 個英文字詞以內）。
- 根據「二進制編碼轉換表」，把你的信息轉換成一系列的二進制數字。
- 為每對二進制數字（00，10，01，11）配上一個DNA 鹼基（A，G，C，T）。
- 利用步驟（3）的配對，把一系列的二進制數字「編碼」成DNA 鹼基序列。
- Write your own short message (within 10 words) with the characters given in the 'Binary code converter chart' on p.11.
- Convert your message into a series of binary codes by using the 'Binary code converter chart'.
- Assign a DNA base (A, G, C, T) for each pair of binary digits (00, 10, 01, 11).
- Based on the assignment in step (3), encode the series of binary codes into a DNA base sequence.
例子：E.g.
- i love biology.
- 001000011100001011001110010101000100011100
000001001000001110001011001110000110011000011011
- 00 = A 01 = G 10 = C 11 = T
- ATACGAATGAGTCCCACACGAAACATAAGTATGAGTACTCTACTG
- i love biology.
- 001000011100001011001110010101000100011100
000001001000001110001011001110000110011000011011
- 00 = A 01 = G 10 = C 11 = T
- ATACGAATGAGTCCCACACGAAACATAAGTATGAGTACTCTACTG
遊戲2（解碼）
Game 2 - Decoding
- 老師會收集各組在遊戲1 的「編碼」信息（DNA 鹼基序列），然後把信息分派給不同組別的學生。
- 每組學生需要把DNA 鹼基序列轉換成一系列的二進制數字，再「解碼」成原來的信息
- 能夠最快把信息「解碼」的組別便勝出！
- the messages (a DNA base sequence) encoded by students in Game 1. Give each group of students a message from another group to decode.
- Each group of students needs to decode the DNA base sequence to its original message, by converting the DNA base sequence into a series of binary codes, and then to characters.
- The group that can decode the message in the shortest time wins the game.
遊戲1（編碼）Game 1 (Encoding)
難度﹕Difficulty:
★ ★
時間﹕Time:
10 分鐘10 mins
Write your own short message:
Convert your message into a series of binary codes:
為每對二進制數字配上一個DNA 鹼基：
把你的信息「編碼」成 DNA 鹼基序列：
Assign a DNA base for each pair of binary digits.
Encode your message into a DNA base sequence:
遊戲2（解碼）Game 2 (Decoding)
難度﹕Difficulty:
★ ★ ★
時間﹕Time:
20 分鐘20 mins
Write the encoded message (a DNA base sequence) that is given by your teacher:
為每個DNA 鹼基配上一對二進制數字：
把你的信息轉換成一系列的二進制數字：
Assign a pair of binary digits for each DNA base:
Convert your message into a series of binary codes:
二進制編碼轉換表
Binary code converter chart
|
文字
Character
|
二進制編碼
Binary Code
|
| a | 000000 |
| b | 000001 |
| c | 000010 |
| d | 000011 |
| e | 000100 |
| f | 000101 |
| g | 000110 |
| h | 000111 |
| i | 001000 |
| j | 001001 |
| k | 001010 |
| l | 001011 |
| m | 001100 |
|
文字
Character
|
二進制編碼
Binary Code
|
| n | 001101 |
| o | 001110 |
| p | 001111 |
| q | 010000 |
| r | 010001 |
| s | 010010 |
| t | 010011 |
| u | 010100 |
| v | 010101 |
| w | 010110 |
| x | 010111 |
| y | 011000 |
| z | 011001 |
|
文字
Character
|
二進制編碼
Binary Code
|
| ! | 011010 |
| . | 011011 |
| (space) | 011100 |
| 0 | 011101 |
| 1 | 011110 |
| 2 | 011111 |
| 3 | 100000 |
| 4 | 100001 |
| 5 | 100010 |
| 6 | 100011 |
| 7 | 100100 |
| 8 | 100101 |
| 9 | 100110 |
附加資源Extension
Open the following link and carry out encoding and decoding with an online converter: