Today, computers have their basis on electronic circuits. However, far before computers and electronic circuits were invented, vacuum tubes were used as basics for electronics. People were able to use vacuum tubes in more advanced machines like computer, but constraints of vacuum tubes limited their further usage. Therefore, miniaturization of the electronics system, as an alternative of vacuum tubes, was led by military and space agencies.
The concept of a monolithic piece contributed to how the circuit was developed. Jack Kilby (whose Nobel Lecture was the reading this post is based on) saw that semiconductor materials could be used to make transistors and diodes, ultimately leading to a circuit built from a single material. He used germanium (and later silicon) to build first a chip out of discrete components, then one that was completely one piece.
The integrated circuit was far from an instant success. Many in the computing community expressed concerns and critiques. Some believed no single material would effectively support the integrated circuit. Others thought it would simply never be profitable. Aside from these practical concerns, there were concerns about the human implications, a reminder that computers are fundamentally a human output. The integrated circuit could put circuit developers out of work. As the technology developed, however, it became apparent that it created more, if different, employment for such workers.
Despite early doubts about the practicality and use of the integrated circuit, endorsements by the military for the Apollo moon missions and Minutemen missile program proved a huge push. Soon, the technology made its way into civilian goods, with Texas Instruments producing the first handheld mechanical calculator. Today, the production of and the actual performance of integrated circuits improves drastically with each year. With this, the technology may soon be reaching its natural limit, in which case new innovation might be necessary.
Each paragraph was written by (in order) Sean, Gabriel, Georgia, and Charles. Compiled and edited by Georgia.
