A progress report on large capacity magnetic film memory development

Abstract

In 1964 we proposed an approach to magnetic film memory development aimed at providing large, high-speed, low-cost random-access memories. Almost without exception, all early attempts at film memory design emphasized speed with little consideration for the potential of batch-fabrication to reduce costs. Based on our earlier work in building the first film memory in 1959, and a 1,000 word, 400 nsec model for the TX-2 computer in 1962, we had reached some fundamental conclusions about the compatibility of high speed and low cost for destructive-readout film memories.