From Wired’s “This Day in Tech,” the invention of the IC, 1952:
The first integrated circuit was fairly crude — it had only a transistor and other components on a slice of germanium. But it did show the potential of the IC, which continues today to get smaller and more complex.
Just a few months later, Robert Noyce, one of the co-founders of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, solved some of the problems related to the interconnects, sharing the credit with Kilby for the practical IC.
Kilby patented the invention and won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics for his role in the creation of the IC.
[Thanks, Pete Mills!]
May 7, 1952: The Integrated Circuit … What a Concept!
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MAKE presents: The Integrated Circuit
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Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.
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