Tinkertoys to Solid Circuits - Microcircuitry in the 1950s

[Recorded: May 6, 2009]
The computer chip we know today initially emerged from Cold War demands for improved reliability, performance, and miniaturization of electronics systems. The later 1950s witnessed diverse efforts to pack components into tiny modules and to integrate multiple components in a single slice of semiconductor material. Fierce technological competition between these different approaches to microcircuitry -- from Tinkertoys to Molecular Electronics to Solid Circuits -- resulted in the planar integrated circuit of today.

In this lecture, Michael Riordan, co-author of Crystal Fire, first reviews the broad efforts toward microminiaturization of the early 1950s.
Next, John Hollar, CHM CEO and David Laws chair a panel discussion between:
Charles E. Phipps, former VP Marketing, Texas Instruments and General Partner, Sevin Rosen Funds
Jay W. Lathrop, former DOFL and Texas Instruments scientist, Professor Emeritus Clemson University
L. Arthur D'Asaro, former senior scientist at Bell Telephone Laboratories

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Computer
• History
• Museum
• Integrated
• Circuit
• Chips
• Texas
• Instruments
• Intel
• Silicon
• Valley
• Solid

[Iampolynesian]

I have a New respect for Texas Instruments -

[Iampolynesian]

but if you don't know this part of history it's like you're missing a big link in over all World History

[MintythecatIsABeast]

@Iampolynesian yep - they came up with the idea for a binary full adder :)

[gugenet]

I love that you interview pioneers like Thomas Stanley to keep their stories and viewpoints for posterity before it's too late. But when you do, I think you should pay more attention to sound quality. This is like Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History using hammers to prepare specimens for their exhibition of spiders!

[1888junkteam]

excellent work!

[WorldWalker128]

thanks for posting this. it saved me some research, and more than that, I LOVE HISTORY!

[Iampolynesian]

Wonder if there history on here about John Mauchly - Operation Bernhard - The Moore school Lectures - Morris etc the Purple Machine - Enigma- etc etc

[Iampolynesian]

I've read articles on Texas Instruments, just not "that" much- and didn't know it held such an important role in this area of History good stuff-

[JosephXFS]

Where???

when??

Don't listen to a bunch of self righteous Europeans. America is the modern Rome. Every part the same but very different.

[Iampolynesian]

I'm just wondering how in the heck did America go from model A tech to Religous belt reputation in so short a time?