JACK KILBY

Jack Kilby is credited as co-inventor of the integrated circuit, along with Robert Noyce. In 1958 these two separate inventors unaware of each other's activities, both invented an almost identical integrated circuit, nicknamed 'the chip', at nearly the same time. While working for Texas Instruments in 1958, Kilby developed a germanium-based integrated circuit. The electronic hand-held calculator, of which Kilby is a co-inventor, successfully commercialized the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit virtually created the modern computer industry, transforming yesterday's room-size machines into today's array of mainframes, minicomputers and personal computers.