During the last 15 years, ICTs have provided a number of radically new devices / techno-toys that have improved the daily life of the EU citizen: mobile phone, digital camera, MP3 players, PC, PDA, credit cards, video on discs, flat screen, HD TV, fast communications (ADSL) .
The need of more and more “memory” is shared by all applications of ICTs such as enhancing life comfort and security, leisure, education, business and improving work productivity.
At the moment there seems to be no sign for a slowing down of memory requirements: in spite of the doubling of memory density every 18 months, the diffusion of broadband communication and digital appliances, and the constant demand for better quality of images and sound, is creating an ever increasing need for large memories in a variety of new media.
Solid-state memories are the preferred solution for mobile applications. Their main advantages are the use of consolidated technology, the lack of any mechanical,parts, which results in stronger ruggedness, lighter weight, smaller form-factor, better reliability and, above all, lower power dissipation.
And solid-state mass-storage today means NAND Flash memories
