Advent of Computing Episode 32 - Road to Transistors, Part II
Jun 14, 2020
The fascinating journey of the transistor unfolds, tracing back to the crystal radio detector and the development of semiconductors. Discover how important milestones, like the invention of the point-contact transistor and Shockley's bipolar junction transistor, transformed computing. Hear about the transition from vacuum tubes to transistors in radios and the groundbreaking TRADIC, the first transistorized computer. The discussion highlights the challenges and innovations that led to modern computing, showcasing the transistor's pivotal role in technology advancement.
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Transistor As The Turning Point
- The transistor was the single invention that enabled computers to shrink, become cheaper, and spread beyond research labs.
- Sean Haas frames the transistor as the major driver of the 1950s shift in computing accessibility.
Cat-Whisker Radio Detective Work
- Early crystal radio 'cat whisker' detectors used a metal wire touching a crystal to form a crude diode.
- Sean Haas describes trial-and-error tuning of the whisker to find working diode spots on the crystal surface.
Junctions Are Where The Magic Happens
- Junctions between metals and semiconductors create rectifying behavior that lets current pass one way.
- Sean Haas highlights that those junctions are where semiconductor 'magic' happens.