The History Of Flash Memory

Posted on February 2, 2008
Filed Under Computer Accessories, USB Gadgets |

Flash Drive History

With the recently influx of flash memory capable gadgets, it is easy to think that flash technology is one of the newer inventions. Like many technological advancements (the personal computer, electronic circuit, and more), there is often a great deal of time between the invention of a new technology and its introduction to mass market production and use.

Flash technology was invented by Dr. Fujio Masuoka in 1984 while he worked for Toshiba. The name flash came from the feeling that the action performed when erasing the memory was as fast and similar to that of the flash of a camera. Intel introduced the first commercial NOR type flash memory chip in 1988, while the faster NAND type flash memory chip was came along in 1989.

Flash technology has made its way into thumb drives, memory cards for cameras (both video and stationary), music players, hardware for electronics products, and more. Flash technology will continue to be useful in a number of ways for years to come. The next technological advance may hit the masses ten years from now… and it may have been developed yesterday.

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