ROBERT NOYCE

Robert Noyce is credited as co-inventor of the integrated circuit, along with Jack Kilby. 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 at Fairchild Semiconductor in 1958, Noyce developed a silicon-based integrated circuit. Within three years, affordable chips were produced in volume using Noyce's process, a manufacturing technique that has undergone minor improvements but remains basically unchanged to this day. Noyce went on to cofound Intel Corp. in 1968, the company responsible for the invention of the microprocessor. 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.