Computer Technology
Timeline
 
image of a bell labs computer logic paperweight with transistor, IC and vacuum tube
A Bell Labs 'Transistor History' Paperweight (1967)


The technological "brains" inside a computer that enables it to rapidly process data have quickly evolved over the years.  From using electro-mechanical relays & vacuum tubes in the 1940's,  transistors in the 1950's, Micromodules,  Hybrid Integrated Circuits & Solid Logic Technology in the 1960's, integrated circuits in the 1970's, to Very Large Scale Integrated circuits (VLSI) in the 1980's till today.




The Evolution of Computer Logic Technology

         1940s                        1950s                             1960s                             1970s              
Western Electric Computer Vacuum Tube 408A
Vacuum Tubes
Junction Transistor RCA
Transistors
image of Micromodule
Micromodules
Picture
Hybrid Circuits
IBM 360 SLT
IBM SLT
Computer Chip Integrated Circuit Microchip
Integrated Circuits




Supporting Computer Technologies

image of a SIlicon wafer
Silicon Wafers
image of core memory
Computer Memory
image of magentic tape head
Tape & Disk Storage
image of MEMS mirror
MEMS Devices
image of a CCD device
Image Scanning & Video Display
 


image of computer memory technology timeline






From Vacuum Tubes to Transistors

image of computer evolution of vacuum tube to transistor 1950's
Evolution from Vacuum Tubes to Transistors (1950's)


Vacuum Tubes > Transistors > Micromodules >

Hybrid Integrated Circuits > IBM SLT > Integrated Circuits


Silicon Wafers > Computer Memory > Magnetic Storage > MEMS Devices



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