Fast and furious: racetrack memory

IBM scientists are working on a new class of memory that should provide an answer to the drawbacks of flash memory. Because flash memory has no moving parts it is much faster in reading data than conventional hard disks. However, it is not that quick in writing data. Plus, the lifespan of flash memory is finite and can be used only a few thousand times. The memory is slightly damaged by each use or rewrite.

Racetrack memory, so named because the data 'races' on the 'track' within the memory, is different. It also has no moving parts, can both read and write quickly and has no wear-out mechanism and thus a lifespan of decades. Also, the memory uses much less energy , so you don't need to charge your batteries each day. Pretty ideal material for new lifestyle electronics, with this kind of memory your iPod should be able to carry 500,000 songs or 350 movies. That's what I call a portable entertainment system. The downside is that it will take up to ten years before we will see the first commercial products.

Source: IBM