Content addressable memory was use in Staran [1] for parallel execution of Air Traffic Control in 1972<p>There is a great book on the subject [2] which is mind expanding.<p>In more modern times is the Venti file server for Plan9 which uses SHA hashes as block addresses to build file contents thereby auto-consolidating duplicate file storage among other interesting features. [3] Which was invented by Sean Quinlan and Sean Dorward at Bell Labs (both now it Google iirc) and later maintained by Russ Cox who you may know from go-lang.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;STARAN" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;STARAN</a><p>[2] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Content-Addressable-Parallel-Processors-Computer&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0442224338" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Content-Addressable-Parallel-Processor...</a><p>[3] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.cs.bell-labs.com&#x2F;sys&#x2F;doc&#x2F;venti&#x2F;venti.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.cs.bell-labs.com&#x2F;sys&#x2F;doc&#x2F;venti&#x2F;venti.html</a>