Jack Kilby demonstrates the first working integrated circuit while working at Texas Instruments.
An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a microchip or simply chip, is a compact assembly of electronic circuits formed from various electronic components, such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors, and their interconnections. These components are fabricated onto a thin, flat piece ("chip") of semiconductor material, most commonly silicon.
Integrated circuits are integral to a wide variety of electronic devices performing functions such as data processing, control, and storage. They have transformed the field of electronics by enabling device miniaturization, improving performance, and reducing cost.
Watch: Fairchild Briefing on Integrated Circuits
From the Computer History Museum channel.
Sources and further reading: Wikipedia — Integrated circuit, Jack Kilby, Texas Instruments (CC BY-SA). Images: Wikimedia Commons.
