Intel 1702 - World's First EPROM - Gargoyle - C1702A

About this Artwork: This artwork was created by micro-photographing a small section of the 1702 EPROM computer chip. To the bottom is an image of the 1702 chip. The yellow box indicates where the picture was taken. I have titled the artwork Gargoyle for its dark primitive look. The Intel 1702 is the world’s first EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). In the early 70’s, before DVD’s, CD’s, hard disks, and even diskettes, programmers had a real challenge in storing data in small computers when they were turned off. RAM (Random Access Memory) chips were great for storing information, but all bits were reset to zero when the power was turned off. At that time, data and programs were stored on ROMs (Read Only Memory) chips that had to be created in chip making factories. If the data or program needed to be changed, a new chip would have to be ordered, which could take months for delivery. EPROM’s can be programmed electronically to any bit pattern and they will hold those patterns