Wikipedia compared with other sources By Nikolay Mihaylov of TI11S

Research topic and goals Study and its results Comparison and evaluation Comments on the Wikipedia page Comments on the HowStuffWorks page Comments on the SearchStorage page Conclusions References

The goal of this presentation is to compare different sources of information and to show whether relying only on one source is a good idea. Flash Memory was chosen as the research topic.

Using the keywords “flash memory”, the Google search engine returned 165,000,000 results. From them, only the top 3 results (number 1 being the Wikipedia article) have been taken into consideration for this research.

Flash memory is a non- volatile computer storage chip that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It was developed from EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) and must be erased in fairly large blocks before these can be rewritten with new data. The high density NAND type must also be programmed and read in (smaller) blocks, or pages, while the NOR type allows a single machine word (byte) to be written and/or read independently. Electronic memory comes in a variety of forms to serve a variety of purposes. Flash memory is used for easy and fast information storage in computers, digital cameras and home video game consoles. It is used more like a hard drive than as RAM. In fact, flash memory is known as a solid state storage device, meaning there are no moving parts - everything is electronic instead of mechanical. Flash memory (sometimes called "flash RAM") is a type of constantly-powered nonvolatile memory that can be erased and reprogrammed in units of memory called blocks. It is a variation of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) which, unlike flash memory, is erased and rewritten at the byte level, which is slower than flash memory updating. Comparison between NAND and NOR type of flash memory Good introduction and a short comparison between the different types of computer memory A brief definition of a flash memory. Covers most of the information included in the beginning of the Wikipedia article

Quite a few images about the way these memories function Clearer and more simple images/animations (if viewed while reading the description in the text) No images The rest of the information taken into consideration for this presentation is similar in all the sources, except for the fact that Wikipedia also mentions the limitations of flash memories

The NAND type is primarily used in memory cards, USB flash drives, solid-state drives, and similar products, for general storage and transfer of data. The NOR type, which allows true random access and therefore direct code execution, is used as a replacement for the older EPROM and as an alternative to certain kinds of ROM applications. The first NAND-based removable media format was SmartMedia in 1995, and many others have followed, including MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, Memory Stick and xD-Picture Card. A new generation of memory card formats, including RS-MMC, miniSD and microSD, and Intelligent Stick, feature extremely small form factors. Limitations:  Block erasure  Memory wear  Read disturb Here are a few examples of flash memory:  Your computer's BIOS chip  CompactFlash (most often found in digital cameras)  SmartMedia (most often found in digital cameras)  Memory Stick (most often found in digital cameras)  PCMCIA Type I and Type II memory cards (used as solid- state disks in laptops)  Memory cards for video game consoles Flash memory is a type of EEPROM chip, which stands for Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. It has a grid of columns and rows with a cell that has two transistors at each intersection Flash memory is often used to hold control code such as the basic input/output system (BIOS) in a personal computer. Flash memory gets its name because the microchip is organized so that a section of memory cells are erased in a single action or "flash." […] Flash memory is used in digital cellular phones, digital cameras, LAN switches, PC Cards for notebook computers, digital set-up boxes, embedded controllers, and other devices.

Wikipedia offers a lot of information in great details, because many different sources of information have been used. A list of references is also available, but the author(s) of the Wikipedia article are unknown, because the editing history only shows nicknames or IP addresses. It is likely that very few people actually use their real names when editing an article on this web site. Furthermore, a lot of terms from the IT field are used, which makes the article not completely comprehensible to the ordinary user. To compensate this fact, there are a lot of links to other Wikipedia pages but if we want to quickly get the essence of what we need to know, a different source might be more appropriate. Even more, this article focuses mainly on the different types of flash memory and their pros and cons. The aim of the page is unlikely to be to sell a certain brand of products, as everyone has the right to edit the information.

The article is aimed to and is easily comprehensible by the every-day user. There is a good introduction that explains all the must-know facts and abbreviations related to this subject. The way that flash memory functions is described in great details, much like on the Wikipedia page. Nevertheless, the images accompanying the text are well- chosen and, in my opinion, clearer than the ones on Wikipedia. No author was stated but instead a list of source materials was presented at the end of the article. It is most likely that the text was not intended to sell flash memories, but rather inform the reader of the way they function.

This website gives a brief definition of what a flash memory is and what it is most often used for. It does not include nearly as much details as Wikipedia or HowStuffWorks. Nevertheless, it summarizes all the basic things that one needs to know about this type of memory, making it clear enough for readers with limited free time.

Comparing different sources of information is quite useful. Relying only on Wikipedia articles is not always the best option, as often the information there is complicated enough to confuse the inexperienced reader. Furthermore, the information there may be easily manipulated in order to sell a certain kind of product. That is why we should also refer to a different website or book before making an important decision or project.

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