Applications

Abstract

The applications of a new technology always turn out to be more diversified than initially anticipated. When reliable devices with good operating characteristics and costs are available engineers find new ways to use them, especially if they have useful features that are not readily obtained in other existing devices. On the other hand, enough application work has to be done to demonstrate the product potential before the investment will be made to develop and produce product level devices. At the time of this writing the situation with bubble technology is as follows :

• 1) Some very useful features of bubble devices, which are different from other devices, have been identified and demonstrated.

• 2) Small storage units have been constructed and tested. Their use with microprocessors, electronic telephone switching systems and in terminals (e.g., point-of-sale) is being evaluated.

• 3) Papers have been written showing how the features of bubble devices should be very advantageous in storage assemblies for larger computer systems and for special purposes (e.g., text editing, flight recorders, etc.).

• 4) The level of integration on bubble chips is being increased from ~ 100 kb to 256–1000 kb and this will provide a cost reduction that should spur more extensive application, both as already conceived and in new ways.

• 5) Sufficient application of the devices has not yet taken place to cause heavy production and the price reduction which accompanies production efficiency..