The Blaustahl USB storage device by Machdyne features 8KB of FRAM and is designed for long-term text storage, potentially lasting over 200 years. Price €29.95.
Non-volatile FRAM features ultra-low power consumption, fast write speeds, and extremely high write endurance, capable of one million billion read/write cycles.
The device includes a built-in text editor accessible through serial communication programs like PuTTY and Tera Term.
Uses include data logging with frequent writes, and very long-term storage of passwords, cryptocurrency keys, notes, and geocaching data.
Future firmware updates are expected to include encryption features.
The firmware, schematics, and enclosure design files are all accessible on GitHub, allowing users to explore and modify the device to suit their needs.
The oldest known written records are 5,000 year old clay tablets from ancient Sumeria. The scribes used a reed stylus to engrave cuneiform symbols into the wet clay and then dried the tablets in the desert sun.
Thousands of clay tablets have survived. Scholars have decoded the cuneiform symbols, providing a written history of an ancient civilization. There are Sumerian stories of friendly visitors from outer space who shared knowledge of astronomy, agriculture, mathematics, etc.
It would be interesting to pass down a rugged storage device storing family history, going back many generations.
For current use, it could be useful to have a small rugged encrypted storage device that lasts a lifetime, requires no power, does not wear out from writing, holds important records, data, keys, codes, secrets, etc. and is not susceptible to electromagnetic pulse (EMP), flash memory bit rot, ultra-violet light exposure, shock, water, temperature, X-ray, insects, etc.
FRAM is mostly suited for low memory capacity, write-intensive industrial use now, but as storage capacity grows and costs decline, it will have more useful applications.
It is usually embedded into equipment. This is the first time I have seen it available in USB drive form, and no special driver is required.
An odd question. I don’t use AI. I have been a researcher/writer/blogger for many years.
Maybe I have discovered a new technology, using humans to impersonate AI.
Human AI, HAI.
hai is the Japanese word for yes.
FRAM has been around for decades and hasn’t grown in density much as it’s so uncommon.
I might also point out that this little board has FLASH storing the program code for the USB interface chip–which will be dead in 25 years or about.
The device is a cute concept, but I wouldn’t entrust anything valuable to its 200 year retention. You’re better off laser etching a glass slide or something.
I use Transcend MLC flash drives for longer data retention. The stored charge can be refreshed by re-writing the data periodically.
If the firmware is periodically upgraded with patches and improvements, that will refresh the flash memory, extending its useful life. It is not going to get worn out by excessive write cycles.
FRAM is a niche product, not meant for bulk storage.
For long term archives, I also store the SHA256 hash values, to do a data integrity check.
Off topic, but looking at your name DEC-Engineer-23, reminded me of my high school days when I had a part time job at DEC in Maynard in the old American Woolen mill
very cool! I graduated from Maynard High School then became a U S Marine - when I got out I went to college on the GI Bill. The past 32 years I was at HP and Apple. I was with HP when they bought Compaq so I guess I worked for DEC again later since Compaq bought them before we bought Compaq
