The Humble Transistor

Well! Where do I begin? Where will it all end? The humble transistor, in my humble opinion is almost certainly the best invention ever patented. If man could have patented the wheel then I may have rated the transistor as the second best patented invention - or I may not!

But how does one define best I hear you ask? At best, this is a very subjective question. Does it mean ubiquitous? Civilisation enabling? Life giving? Regardless, the transistor is all of these and more! For example, I defy anyone reading this to think of a time when they were not within at least a meter of a transistor (or a million of them)! I could just list all the devices I can think of that contain transistors but I am sure you are capable of this yourself! And these devices run our lives - our planet even. Where would we be without them?

I am no patent expert but I would bet my trip into space that most patented inventions today are devices that contain, or processes that rely on, the transistor! For this reason alone doesn't this make the transistor - by default - the best patented invention?

Each year, we build faster, more complex devices containing transistors. We learn from what works and build on this. Who knows then where the transistor will take us given enough space and enough time? Just imagine!

Submitted by: Stuart Prestedge