Electronics: The Life Story of a Technology

Electronics is the first book of its kind - a comprehensive account of the history of one of the late 20th century’s greatest technologies - the field of electron devices. Some of these devices, the laser and the microchip for example, have become household words, but their origins and operation are largely unknown to the general public. Other devices that form the heart of important electronic systems are virtually unknown outside the field of engineering. Electronics surveys the histories of all these devices, showing how they relate to each other and to the world we live in. The development of electronic devices was central to many of the most important historical events of the last 50 years, such as the introduction of television, the Cold War, the Space Race, the rise of Asian semiconductor manufacturers, and the emergence of the surveillance society - this book explores them all. In addition, Electronics examines the fascinating stories of how scientists and engineers created these devices in the first place. The book explains the origins and impact of a series of now-familiar technologies, including the Magnetron tube used to power microwave ovens, the CRT (television and computer display), the laser, the first integrated circuit, the microprocessor, and memory chips. The book includes a timeline and a bibliography for those interested in learning more about the history of electron devices.