Projections of data processing memory usage

An overview of the demand for various types of memory used with computer systems is presented. The types of memory and the major memory applications are discussed and analyzed for trends which will affect the amount and type of memory required for future computer systems. General business and scientific computers are by far the largest users of memory. This trend will continue with the advent of centralization of files, teleprocessing, and the use of virtual memory techniques to reduce the cost of memory and provide for machine-controlled memory management. The amount of on-line or direct-access memory available to users will continue to increase permitting extremely large files, program libraries, and information libraries which will be accessed by remote terminals and CPU's. Additional large demands for memory are developing in minicomputer-and microcomputer-based systems for industrial, business, and scientific uses as well as in intelligent terminal and data entry devices. These smaller processors, while contributing to the trend toward distributed processing, will also serve as the controllers for distributed file storage. The recent developments in the field of "mini" storage devices will be extended to provide even lower cost storage for use with small systems.