Write-only memory (joke)

The Write -only memory (also: WOM, German: write-only memory ) is the jocular antonym to read-only memory. Write Only Memory is a device WORN ( write once read never, compare WORM ).

Origin

In the early 1970s created an engineer at Signetics, frustrated by lengthy approval procedures without actually taking place tests, the specification of a write-only -memory block. This was actually released and was included in the catalog for new products. After initial inquiries for Price and Availability arrived, the managers were attentive at Signetics and tried to replace the already distributed through catalogs reprinted. Became aware of the joke, but retained many customers their catalog.

Published in 1974 Signetics then in ELECTRONICS Magazine as April Fool's a two page color data sheet of Signetics ' Model 25120 "fully -encoded, 9046 x N Random Access Write Only Memory". In this data sheet the usual details were corruption, taken over or understatement to poke fun or nonsensical information in the usual form given in a data sheet (see also fake ), so that they appear plausible at first glance.

Benefit

A write- only memory fulfilled only in very special cases of practical use. There are very few practical applications that are in spirit, a write -only memory and in which its functionality is required.

• Is a program a data stream out, but of no interest (for example, if automatic error messages, but these (for whatever reason) of no interest ), they can be redirected to a write -only memory be. There, the messages are written into it though, read this, however, needs no one. / dev / null is accordingly such a write-only memory. The network service Discard represents a write-only memory for a computer network