MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, Jan 28 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Computer History Museum, home to the world's largest collection of
computing-related objects and information, today announced that it has unveiled
"The
Silicon Engine" website. Funded by a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore
Foundation of San Francisco, California, "The Silicon Engine"
[www.computerhistory.org/semiconductor/]presents a timeline of key semiconductor
industry events behind the story of
semiconductor technology and its central role in the computer revolution through
1979.
Widely regarded as one of the most important technical innovations of the
20th century, the semiconductor-based transistor and its microchip offspring,
integrated circuits, microprocessors, and semiconductor memories have changed
the
way we live, work, and play. From cell phones to supercomputers, microchips
supply the intelligence and the horsepower and yet the stories of the people,
products, and companies behind them are seldom celebrated. Developed by
members of the Museum's Semiconductor Special Interest Group in cooperation with
the
Museum's curatorial and technology staff, "The Silicon Engine" is the first
comprehensive online presentation of the history of semiconductor technology to
be developed by a major institution.
"The Silicon Engine" describes, in chronological and milestone formats,
fifty-five
key events that led to today's billion transistor microchips. The timeline
extends
from Michael Faraday's discovery of a semiconductor effect in 1833 to Bell Labs'
single-chip digital signal processor in 1979. Each milestone includes a
description of the event together with historical images, references to original
documents, and sources of additional information. A section on Teacher Materials
provides lesson plans that introduce students to topics such as technological
innovation, invention and problem solving and the significance of Moore's Law
(an
important trend in the history of computer hardware first presented by Intel
co-founderGordon E. Moore in a 1965 paper: that the number of transistors that
can
beinexpensively placed on an integrated circuit is increasing exponentially,
doubling
approximately every two years.)
Other resources on the site include biographies of semiconductor pioneers
and
their companies, a semiconductor glossary, and links to oral histories and other
related websites. A second phase of the project that will provide online access
to documents, oral histories, and images of artifacts in the Museum's
collection will be completed in 2008. The Computer History Museum is also
seeking additional funding to support the final phase of "The Silicon Engine"
project, which will complete the remaining decades of this important industry
timeline. Anyone with relevant materials or resources to contribute should
contact David Laws at 650-810-1057 or laws@computerhistory.org.
About the Computer History Museum
The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit
organization with a 25-year history as part of the former Boston Computer
Museum. CHM preserves and presents the artifacts and stories of the
information age and is dedicated to exploring the social impact of
computing. CHM's diverse collection of computing-related artifacts is the
largest and most significant in the world. CHM brings computing history to
life through an acclaimed speaker series, dynamic website, and onsite
toursand exhibits. Current exhibits include "Mastering the Game: A History of
Computer Chess," "Innovation in the Valley," and "Visible Storage," featuring
600
key objects from the collection. A signature "Timeline of Computing History"
exhibit will open in the fall of 2009. For open hours and more information,
visit www.computerhistory.org or call +1 650 810 1010. Admission is free.
About the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, established in 2000, seeks to advance
environmental conservation and cutting-edge scientific research around the world
and improve the quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more
information, visit www.moore.org.
For more information, contact:
Robert Stetson
(650) 810-1036
stetson@computerhistory.org
Greg Nelson
(415) 561-7427
greg.nelson@moore.org
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