Nonvolatile semiconductor memory revolutionizing information storage

(1) NVSM has revolutionized the information-storage technology and has ushered in the mobile electronics era. (2) NVSM has enabled the development of numerous new electronic applications and has penetration rates of over 90% in electronic systems since 2005; it is ubiquitous. (3) Flash memory owns many good attributes for an almost ideal memory. Therefore, it is an inevitable key component in many applications. (4) NAND-based Flash is not only for memory use but is the best solution today for semiconductor digital-mass storage among all other semiconductor choices. Many exotic/emerging technologies are under research for the next-generation candidate, but as of today, none are ready to overtake the floating-gate NVSM- the gap is still quite large.