Advent of Computing Episode 31 - Road to Transistors: Part I
May 31, 2020
Explore the fascinating evolution from vacuum tubes to the groundbreaking cryotron. Discover how Thomas Edison's thermionic emission sparked the creation of vacuum tubes, revolutionizing early computing. Uncover Lee de Forest's invention of the Audion triode, which amplified radio signals. Learn about John Atanasoff's pioneering work with vacuum tubes in binary computing. Tantalizingly, delve into the cryotron's promise of super efficiency, small size, yet face the challenges posed by cryogenics. History, innovation, and intrigue collide!
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Transistor: Simple Switch, Huge Impact
- The transistor is a simple three-leg switch that enables complex computation when scaled into billions on a chip.
- Its basic on/off control of current underlies modern microprocessors and digital logic.
Kitchen-Table Relay Breakthrough
- George Stibitz built a one-bit adder from spare relays at his kitchen table in 1937.
- That tinkering proved relays could implement binary logic and led to Bell Labs' relay calculators.
Vacuum Tubes Enabled Early Electronic Logic
- John Atanasoff realized vacuum tubes could implement binary logic and speed up calculations compared to mechanical devices.
- His ABC used ~300 tubes to solve linear equations and influenced later electronic computers.
