Transistor
 The transistor computer did not last as long as
the vacuum tube computer lasted, but it was no less important in the
advancement of computer technology. In 1947 three scientists,
John Bardeen,
William Shockley, and
Walter Brattain working at
AT&T's Bell Labs invented what would replace the vacuum tube forever.
A picture of William Shockley is shown on the right.This invention was the transistor which functions like a vacuum tube in that it can be used to relay and switch electronic signals. There were obvious differences between the transisitor and the vacuum tube. The transistor was faster, more reliable, smaller, and much cheaper to build than a vacuum tube. One transistor replaced the equivalent of 40 vacuum tubes. These transistors were made of solid material, some of which is silicon, an abundant element (second only to oxygen) found in beach sand and glass. Therefore they were very cheap to produce. |
 Transistors were found to conduct electricity faster and better than vacuum tubes. They were also much smaller and gave off virtually no heat compared to vacuum tubes. Their use marked a new beginning for the computer. Without this invention, space travel in the 1960's would not have been possible. However, a new invention would even further advance our ability to use computers – the integrated circuit. |