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Jay Forrester's magnetic core memory patent turns 75

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

Seventy-five years ago, Jay Forrester filed a patent for magnetic core memory, a technology that would dominate computer storage for two decades. This invention, developed at MIT for the Project Whirlwind air defense system, used tiny ferrite rings to store data, enabling larger and more reliable computing. The patent's subsequent legal battles with RCA and IBM resulted in a then-record $13 million settlement for MIT, with Forrester personally receiving $1.5 million. AI

IMPACT This historical development in computer memory laid the groundwork for future computational advancements, including those in AI.

RANK_REASON Historical milestone for a foundational computing technology. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.1]

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Jay Forrester's magnetic core memory patent turns 75

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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Tom's Hardware TIER_1 English(EN) · Luke James ·

    Jay Forrester filed the first practical computer RAM patent 75 years ago this week — his Magnetic Core Memory patent would be granted five years later

    Granted as U.S. Patent 2,736,880 in February 1956, Forrester's invention evolved from MIT's Project Whirlwind.

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