There’s no doubt that the last 50 years have represented essentially the mostsome of the most innovative half-decade in human history, and today marks the anniversary of the discovery that started all of it: the silicon-based integrated circuit. Robert Noyce received the landmark U.S. patent on April 25, 1961, occurring to found Intel Corporation with Gordon E. Moore (of Moore’s Law fame) in 1968. He wasn’t the primary to invent the integrated circuit — the inventor of the pocket calculator Jack Kilby patented the same technology on a germanium wafer for Texas Instruments a couple of months prior. Noyce’s silicon version stuck, however, and is accountable for Moore’s estimated $3.7 billion net worth, let alone the success of the complete computing industry. Holding 16 other patents and credited as a mentor of Steve Jobs , Noyce was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1987, and continued to shape the computing industry until his death in 1990. If Moore’s Law continues to carry true, as we anticipate this may, we predict the subsequent 50 years to be much more exciting than the last. Let’s meet back here in 2061.
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