History of Computers - Texas Instruments
--Rbeckner 09:19, 10 September 2010 (CDT)
Texas Instruments (TI) is a Dallas-based company that sells computer and semiconductor products[1]. TI has been an instrumental company in the manufacture of computer components and the advancement of computer hardware.
Contents
Origin
Texas Instruments was founded in 1947 by Cecil Green, John Erik Jonsson, Eugene McDermott, and Patrick Haggerty. The company was originally created by employees of Geophysical Service Incorporated (GSI), a seismic exploration firm, and manufactured the first silicon transistor.[2].
Significance
Researchers working under the banner of TI have produced instrumental inventions to advance computer science. Researchers working for TI produced the first commercial silicon transistor in 1954, the same year that Bell Labs produced the first workable transistor. The first integrated circuit was created by Jack Kilby while working for TI. TI also invented the transistor radio to create a market base for their silicon transistor product. TI was awarded the patent for the single chip microprocessor in 1973 and produced the first microcomputer (a computer with a microprocessor as its CPU). TI created the first electronic calculator in 1967 and by undercutting industry prices, forced MITS to develop the Altair 8800, a revolutionary personal computer, to remain competitive. The Speak and Spell, the widely used computer learning tool immortalized in the film E.T., was also produced by TI.
TI Today
Today TI is segmented into two divisions: Semiconductors and Educational Technology. TI is the fourth biggest manufacturer of semiconductors, and derives 96% of revenue from the sale of its semiconductors. The Educational Technology branch of TI deals mainly with calculators. TI is also a well known manufacturer of electronic calculators and is the creator of the iconic TI-84 calculator that can be very easily be found on the St. Johns campus. In addition to educational equipment and semiconductors, TI is the sole manufacturer of digital light processing micro-mirror components, which are critical in digital cinemas[3]. TI also creates cellular phone chips, with an estimated 50% of all cellular devices in the world containing TI chips[4].
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments
