Re: Watching the Economy Crumble

BMJ wrote:
> Russell.Martin@xxxxxxx wrote:
> > It somewhat depends on what one means by "fundamental".
> > Since "electronics" depends somewhat on "electrons", one
> > might argue that the "fundamental" discovery was that of
> > the electron. :-)
>
> Electronic devices existed before the transistor.

Well, then, quantum theory, or Franklin's observations on the
nature of electricity, or the smelting of copper. :-)

> What was
> fundamentally different about the latter was how it was constructed and
> operated.

Solid state devices (diodes) existed before transistors. Three
connection amplifying devices existed before transistors. It
can be argued that transistors were merely a logical extension
of those more "fundamental" devices.

> Developments in integrated circuits led to completely new
> manufacturing methods, which were quickly adopted by industry.
>
> Certainly the rather obvious commercial
> > potential (and in some cases war efforts) pushed
> > electronics faster than some other fields.
>
> More than anything, it was the space race that drove the electronic
> industry. The biggest problem in going to the moon is weight and
> anything which could reduce the size of the payload and boosters was
> worth considering.

I've read that, and I'd agree as far as miniturization per se, but
commercial, consumer uses drove the industry before that and even
after that as far as revenue goes. So we have a question of
which came first, the revenue prospects or the cutting edge
technology. I claim they are synergistic as far as advancing
the industry as a whole goes. IOW the industry would not have
advanced as far if the only market for small devices was low
volume, high cost space applications, nor would it have advanced
as far if those devices had not been developed for space
applications.

>
> Ironically, that may have also driven the arms race. Soviet electronics
> were several years behind what was available in the west, leading to
> larger packages for their missile guidance systems. They needed larger
> boosters to lift them, which led to the impression that the warheads
> were larger as well (in both size and yield).
>

Maybe the Soviets built bigger rockets because they had to, but
the U.S. built smaller rockets because it couldn't even get those
to work at first. Eventually our German scientists caught up with
their German scientists. :-)

Cheers,
Russell

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Trying to understand how to design circuits
    ... signals for the next stages to build on. ... Each pair of transistors facing each ... In electronics, the first ... and all other sorts of stiff, constant-voltage circuits. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Watching the Economy Crumble
    ... Since "electronics" depends somewhat on "electrons", one might argue that the "fundamental" discovery was that of the electron. ... which were quickly adopted by industry. ... Or, the big push for radio and TV, that also existed before the space race. ... I claim they are synergistic as far as advancing the industry as a whole goes. ...
    (sci.research.careers)
  • Re: "Rat Shack"
    ... - transistors, etc. ... salesmen who want to sell me HDTV's, cell phones, etc.  If I asked ... They do suck compared to on-line electronics for variety. ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: "Rat Shack"
    ... about Transistors, I'd get "Huh?" ... It's kind of sad there's no good walk in stores anymore. ... the radio shit near me sells everything but electronics. ... cell phones and accessories (but not ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: Straight Forward Answers
    ... schematics and kits and such. ... Now i am looking for an electronics book ... the flow of water and voltage being water pressure. ... I'll read the chapter on transistors ...
    (sci.electronics.basics)