The device-programming task has changed a great deal during the past three decades. When Data I/O introduced the first programmer, a list of all the available devices fitted on a single sheet of paper, and the machine accepted algorithms from a punched paper tape. The most important change has been the dramatic increase in speed. Devices supported by the first model are typically programmed at 0.2s/byte, compared to the latest figure of 0.24s/Mbit (increase by a factor of about one million). Current flash memories have densities of up to 256 Mbit/32 Mbytes), but the PROMs used 30 years ago were considered state-of-the-art at 64 byte density. In addition, the rate of product firmware modifications, which will be written into the memories, has grown from about one change to six changes and even more every year. In addition, the time-to- market, 30 years ago measured in years, has come down to about only six months. gbw
