[geekmaster]

If we look at the definition of "memory" from a non-technical point of view, memory is long-term storage in the human brain of information not being processed now (like hard disk storage). "Storage" refers to how and where information is stored in a memory device, such as in register storage, variable storage, database storage, flat file storage, archival storage, etc. It may also refer to information storage and retrieval hardware, such as core memory storage devices, ROM storage devices, flash memory storage devices, etc.

Because the non-technical term of "memory" generally refers to long-term permanent storage and not information currently being processed in your thoughts, this definition is also commonly used in computer documentation as well. However, the OTHER definition (of memory containing what is currently being processed) is also common, which makes memory understood when referring to any storage device (RAM, disk, or otherwise). Which means they are pretty much interchangeable in technical documentation (as can be seen in wikipedia and other places).

You cannot say that I have them backwards and I will confuse people, because I used it the way non-technical people understand human memory, and the way it is commonly used in technical documentation as well. Saying that general use should be the opposite of the human memory usage is what is confusing.