We owe computers not to Charles Babbage, but to the invention of electronically-controlled working memory.
6 comments
myself2487 days ago
An unsung benefit of core memory's non-volatility is that, decades later, forgotten core stacks discovered in storage might still retain whatever data they held when they were powered off.
You just only get one chance to read it.
I'm not aware of any good writeups of such discoveries, though.
mkj6 days ago
Could you read it with a flatbed scanner or other photography? That should be unobtrusive.
ganzsz7 days ago
This is also true for spinning rust, e.g., magnetic drum memory.
kjs36 days ago
Sometimes. Coatings on drums and platters are subject to flaking off and other deterioration, particularly if they weren't stored in completely perfect conditions. Tiny bits of coating cause head crashes which destroy much bigger parts of the surface. Also, over time, the backer for the rust can deform, which also leads to head crashes. Core memories are fragile in their own way (tiny, brittle wires...), but my gut is they're a bit more resilient that iron oxide coating.
Read the full thread on Hacker News →
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