[1] : Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

write-only memory n. the obvious antonym to `read-only memory'. out of
   frustration with the long and seemingly useless chain of approvals
   required of component specifications, during which no actual checking
   seemed to occur, an engineer at signetics once created a specification
   for a write-only memory and included it with a bunch of other
   specifications to be approved. this inclusion came to the attention of
   signetics management only when regular customers started calling and
   asking for pricing information. signetics published a corrected edition
   of the data book and requested the return of the `erroneous' ones.
   later, in 1972, signetics bought a double-page spread in "electronics"
   magazine's april issue and used the spec as an april fools' day joke.
   instead of the more conventional characteristic curves, the 25120 "fully
   encoded, 9046 x n, random access, write-only-memory" data sheet included
   diagrams of "bit capacity vs. temp.", "iff vs. vff", "number of pins
   remaining vs. number of socket insertions", and "aql vs. selling price".
   the 25120 required a 6.3 vac vff supply, a +10v vcc, and vdd of 0v, +/-
   2.


see also:
management 

[2] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

write-only memory
     
        1.  wom the obvious antonym to "read-only
        memory" rom.
     
        out of frustration with the long and seemingly useless chain
        of approvals required of component specifications, during
        which no actual checking seemed to occur, an engineer at
        signetics once created a specification for a write-only memory
        and included it with a bunch of other specifications to be
        approved.  this inclusion came to the attention of signetics
        management only when regular customers started calling and
        asking for pricing information.  signetics published a
        corrected edition of the data book and requested the return of
        the "erroneous" ones.  later, around 1974, signetics bought a
        double-page spread in "electronics" magazine's april issue and
        used the spec as an april fools' day joke.  instead of the
        more conventional characteristic curves, the 25120 "fully
        encoded, 9046 x n, random access, write-only-memory" data
        sheet included diagrams of "bit capacity vs. temp.", "iff
        vs. vff", "number of pins remaining vs. number of socket
        insertions", and "aql vs. selling price".  the 25120 required
        a 6.3 vac vff supply, a +10v vcc, and vdd of 0v, +/- 2.
     
        2. bit bucket.
     
        jargon file
     
     
see also:
read-only memory management bit bucket jargon file 

Memory >> M Words
Memory, definition of term: Memory
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Memory Loss >> M Words
Memory Loss, definition of term: Memory Loss
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Memory Farts >> M Words
Memory Farts, definition of term: Memory Farts
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Memory Manageme >> M Words
Memory Manageme, definition of term: Memory Manageme
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Memory Protecti >> M Words
Memory Protecti, definition of term: Memory Protecti
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Memory Device >> M Words
Memory Device, definition of term: Memory Device
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Virtual Memory >> V Words
Virtual Memory, definition of term: Virtual Memory
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Shared Memory >> S Words
Shared Memory, definition of term: Shared Memory
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Cache Memory >> C Words
Cache Memory, definition of term: Cache Memory
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Expanded Memory >> E Words
Expanded Memory, definition of term: Expanded Memory
expanded+memory_pag1.html

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