Sally McKee, who coined the term "the memory wall", has died

Sally McKee, the computer scientist who coined the term "the memory wall" in 1994—a foundational concept that shaped how the industry understands processor-memory performance constraints—passed away at 61. Her research and mentorship advanced critical areas including cybersecurity and collaborative computing, with particular impact on how organizations architect systems to address fundamental hardware limitations. For IT leaders, her legacy underscores the continued importance of memory optimization and the interconnection between foundational computer science research and enterprise technology strategy.