I wonder if that concept would have even been present yet. In 1956 they had never seen a technology cycle like doubling of capacities or capabilities like this. Computers were just things that took up entire rooms. Everybody thought the technology was only interesting for massive enterprise or universities.
I don't think they even had 8-track at this point? Perhaps some cars had record players, so they had indeed seen some technology go from living room size to car size.
I really think it is amazing that now we can put exponentially more data than this in a pocket. And that most humans now carry pocket computers that can access astounding amounts of information.
The first two hardrives I had experience were not that big, but still required to people to get into the cabinet. A Fujitsu Eagle and a CDC I can't remember which model that had 5MB fixed and 5MB removable.