Memory
The first element of Operating systems we study is memory. The textbook is limited to those elements of memory that were available at the time of its publication, but other technologies have recently emerged. One of these memory related technology is magnetoresistive RAM, or magnetic RAM which uses the term MRAM. Webopedia defines MRAM and links to other, older types of RAM such as DRAM. Wired has an article written in 2000 about the emergence of instant access memory. Read these two sites and then comment in this blog on the rapid changes in computer technology.
This is a beginning blog assignment, so it is important to participate. Rember to include your name in the comment. Don't be shy -- just write a sentence or two about what these article contributed to your knowledge about RAM.
Blog on!
14 Comments:
This is my comment.
Jane Perschbach
MRAM sounds like it will make computers a great deal faster when booting up but it seems like memory on mram would be corrupted more easily by a magnet.
Marcus Thomas
MRAM sound good i agreed but the hole idea of a Magnetic storage could have big corruption issues farther along its life span. As in u couldnt get certain metals too close to it.
Marcus Tidwell
Stuart Parkin sounds like someone i would like to meet even if it was only to ask how he stays awake for so long. other than that i agree with marcus thomas' accessment of mram though i would like to know if that was true or not and if not how did they work out the problem of magnetic interfearance.
Jessie Cajigas
Mr. Parkin seems like he is very intelligent. He is spending all his time on MRAM which is very good for the future. Instant on pc's would be perfect for the business world and for college classrooms. In my opinion, if/when he finishes this project, he deserves an award or recognition of some kind.
Marcus Fields
the articles are very informative specially to a person whose knowledge in computer is limited, like me. i surely wanted to be like him, intelligent. anyways, it seems that this is very good for the future of computer science, and i surely wanted to be up to par, at least.
Albert Eclavea
To me MRAM seems far superior to the other forms, with MRAM you no longer would have the long wait times of loading the os, it would be instant , and also memory would be stored even when the computer was off. That is pretty cool i think.
Joseph D.
The "instant on" and MRAM is very fascinating. But I fail to see why it would make such a big difference to have a computer fully running once you hit the power switch. I usually that that time to get a hot cup of coffee or soda before gluing my face to the screen for 8-12 hours a day ( 90% online gaming, 8% hobbies and interest, 2% educational).
The occassional power surge is an annoyance that I've learned to live with by purchasing a UPS. Unless the speed is drastically improved, storage capacity greatly increased and the price unquestionably dropped, I'll stick with my SDRAM.
Kosal Phay
MRAM can amount to more storage in mobile devices, with longer battery life. In addition, MRAM retains data after a power supply is turned off. Replacing DRAM with MRAM could prevent data loss and also mean computers that start instantly, without waiting for software to boot up.
MRAM will eventually be made in high densities, and will perhaps replace your computer's HD - leading to a fast computer that can be instantly turned on. If all goes well, MRAM might reach high densities required to compete against FLASH in cellphones and other devices by 2007.
On the other hand, FRAM can be considered a good competitor in niche applications, mainly smart cards and RF tags.
So there is a "battle" here. However, flash is not about to give up and die, and there are various approaches such as storing multiple bits in each cell that extends the lifetime of the flash. It is well established, well known and cost effective, and will take a lot to shake out.
Stacey Brown
The advancement of the Memory capibility seems to be constantly changing.The idea of not power needed really has a positive effect in some very important activities (i.e. militart ops and survival/rescue actions) my question is security and magnetic effect from outside sources
C.J.
i think it is very good that the programers are trying to improve computers & the memory to help the speed & ability.
The "instant-on" feature of MRAM sounds great but reminded me of the early 16-bit video game consoles. They turned on instantly themselves, but I don't think it was due to MRAM. True, they're not "computers" in their own right, but the functioned with similar technology.
Forgot my name...
Joeshua Ladouceur
It seems that the new/present-future type of memory is/will be MRAM. It is not commercially available yet but it was predicted in 2000 that it would have been in five years. Investments that companies such as: IBM, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Honeywell, Motorola, Siemens, Toshiba and more are putting into MRAM technology ensures MRAM introduction is near.
MRAM developed by IBM in the 1970's by Stuart Parkin is believed to eventually replace DRAM which is the prevalent form of memory in use. Because it is non-volatile it could replace ROM to store the OS and since it can be read and written on and it doesn't require an electrical charge to refresh it's contents it could replace DRAM and SRAM. MRAM could also replace PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM because it can be rewritten or erased by passing current to the structure of the chip.Flash Memory could still be used becuase of its portability and convinience that we have gotten used to.
Hector Mojica
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