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Bein Llourenz Dionio February 17, 2024

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Evolution of Electronics and Microprocessors

Electronics is the science and engineering of controlling electrons in devices and
circuits.
The history of electronics dates back to 600 BC, when Thales of Miletus discovered
static electricity by rubbing fur on amber1.
Some of the major inventions and innovations in electronics are:
Leyden jar (1745): the first capacitor that could store electric charge.
Battery (1800): the first device that could produce a steady electric current.
Telegraph (1816): the first device that could transmit signals over long distances
using wires.
Electric motor and generator (1831): the first devices that could convert electrical
energy into mechanical energy and vice versa.
Vacuum tube (1904): the first electronic component that could amplify and switch
electric signals.
Transistor (1947): the first solid-state device that replaced the vacuum tubes and
revolutionized electronics.
Integrated circuit (1958): the first device that miniaturized and combined multiple
transistors and other components on a single piece of silicon.
Microprocessor (1971): the first device that integrated the functions of a computer’s
central processing unit on a single chip.
Personal computer (1981): the first device that used a microprocessor and other
electronic components to perform various tasks for individual users.
Smartphone (2007): the first device that combined the functions of a phone, a
computer, a camera, and a music player in a touchscreen device.
Pioneers and Inventors:
Thales of Miletus: discovered static electricity
Benjamin Franklin: showed lightning was static electricity, invented the lightning
rod
Charles Augustin de Coulomb: invented torsion balance, and showed electric
force follows the inverse square law
Alessandro Volta: invented the first battery, or voltaic pile
Michael Faraday: discovered electromagnetic induction, developed the first electric
motor and generator
Samuel Morse: developed Morse code and telegraph system
John Ambrose Fleming: invented the first electronic component, or vacuum tube
Lee De Forest: improved vacuum tube, created triode, enabled radio, TV, and
phone
John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley: invented the first
transistor, or solid-state device
Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce: invented the first integrated circuit, or microchip

Advantages of the evolution of electronics;

High-speed data processing by electronics and microprocessors improves the
performance and efficiency of devices and systems.
Electronics and microprocessors are often less expensive than other technologies,
making them a cost-effective choice for both manufacturers and consumers.
Small electronics and microprocessors can make devices and systems smaller and
lighter.
Electronics and microprocessors are designed to use less energy, leading to longer
battery life for devices and systems.
Electronics and microprocessors can be programmed to make devices and systems
smarter and more flexible.
Electronics and microprocessors can perform real-time processing, which is crucial
for devices and systems requiring fast response times, such as in automotive and
aerospace applications.
Computer Genarations

1st Generation (1940s - 1950s) - Vacuum Tubes -

 Used vacuum tubes for processing and memory.

 Enormous machines, consuming large amounts of energy and generating significant

heat.

 Primarily used for scientific and military applications.

2nd Generation (1950s - 1960s) - Transistors -

 Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, leading to smaller, faster, and more reliable
computers.

 Magnetic core memory became prominent.

 Development of programming languages like FORTRAN and COBOL.

3rd Generation (1960s - 1970s) - Integrated Circuits (ICs) -

 Introduction of Integrated Circuits (ICs) miniaturized components further.

 Development of operating systems like IBM's OS/360.

 Rise of minicomputers and personal computers.

 4th Generation (1970s - 1980s) - Microprocessors -

 Microprocessors integrated processing, memory, and control circuitry onto a single

chip.

 Personal computers became widely accessible and affordable.

 Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) emerged, making computers more user-friendly.

5th Generation (1980s - Present) - Artificial Intelligence (AI) -

 Focus on using artificial intelligence (AI) in computing.

 Advancements in machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics.

 Development of powerful multi-core processors and parallel computing.

References
https://www.electronicsandyou.com/blog/history-of-electronics.htmlm

https://ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/15/pioneers-electricity-top-10-inventors-electrical-technologies/
id=80700/

http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3956

https://www.elprocus.com/know-about-brief-history-of-electronics-and-their-generations/