Did I slight integrated circuit co-inventor Kilby?
A reader writes:
In your column in the Wednesday, 22 July issue of 'The Baltimore Sun', you commented, "...Robert Noyce launched the cyber age by inventing the silicon-based integrated circuit...".You are correct that Mr. Noyce invented the silicon-based integrated circuit (IC). However it should be noted that Mr. Jack Kilby was the first to demonstrate an operational IC on 12 September 1958. Mr. Noyce independently developed his IC about 6 months later.
Mr. Kilby and Mr. Noyce are considered co-inventors of the IC.
As an electrical engineer and former Texas Instruments employee, I could not stand by and let Mr. Noyce get an unfair amount of credit for the invention of the IC.
My reply:
Thanks for the note and sticking up for TI. Didn’t mean to slight Jack Kilby, but I was trying in an offhand way to observe the Noyce’s 50th anniversary – as you know Kilby’s anniversary was last year. Since silicon and not germanium became the standard, it seemed reasonable to mention Noyce. You didn’t – but could have – also argued against my characterization of the IC as the beginning of the cyber age. What about transistors? What about ENIAC etc. But that’s another conversation!
