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Electronics has evolved from simple experiments with electricity to the powerful digital world we live in today. This journey can be traced through three main eras — each marked by major breakthroughs that reshaped technology and society.
Beginning in the late 19th century, discoveries in electromagnetism and inventions like the vacuum tube enabled the first radio, television, and early computers — launching the electronic age.
In 1947, the transistor replaced bulky tubes with tiny solid-state devices. Soon after, the integrated circuit condensed entire circuits into a single chip, leading to modern electronics as we know them.
The microprocessor brought computing power to desktops, phones, and everyday devices. From personal computers to AI and IoT, digital systems now define nearly every aspect of modern life.
Explore each era to see how a century of innovation shaped today’s electronic world.
The origins of electronics lie in the study of electromagnetism and the behavior of electrons. From the first vacuum tubes to large-scale computers like ENIAC, this era set the stage for our digital world.
During the 19th century, scientists uncovered the fundamental laws of electricity and magnetism.
Manipulating electrons in a vacuum allowed for the first electronic controls.
World War II accelerated the development of large-scale electronic systems.
Before the transistor, the "Valve" was the king of electronics. These fragile, glowing glass tubes allowed for the first electronic amplification and computation.
John Ambrose Fleming invented the vacuum diode, which allowed current to flow in only one direction. This enabled the rectification of AC to DC and the detection of radio signals.
By adding a "grid" between the cathode and anode, Lee de Forest created the first electronic amplifier. This was the critical breakthrough for radio, telephone networks, and early computers.
While largely replaced by semiconductors, vacuum tubes are still prized today in high-end audio amplifiers and high-power RF transmitters for their unique distortion characteristics and power handling.
The transition from fragile vacuum tubes to solid-state semiconductors revolutionized technology. This era introduced the transistor and the first integrated circuits, enabling miniaturization and mass production.
Developed at Bell Labs, the transistor replaced the vacuum tube with a reliable, efficient solid-state switch.
Instead of wiring individual components, engineers learned to build entire circuits on a single chip.
Process innovations and photolithography led to the explosion of the semiconductor industry.
The Digital Era began with the microprocessor, turning computers from room-sized machines into handheld devices. Today, integrated systems-on-chip (SoC) and artificial intelligence define the frontier of electronics.
Intel released the 4004, the first commercial CPU on a single chip, originally for calculators.
The 1980s saw computing power reach homes and offices worldwide.
Modern electronics integrate entire systems into a single piece of silicon.
The Integrated Circuit (IC) is the single most important development in the history of electronics. It allowed multiple electronic components to be manufactured simultaneously on a single piece of semiconductor material.
Two inventors working independently solved the problem of "tyranny of numbers"—the difficulty of wiring thousands of individual components.
As manufacturing improved, the number of transistors on a single chip grew exponentially.
| Era | Full Name | Transistor Count |
|---|---|---|
| SSI | Small-Scale Integration | 1 to 10 |
| MSI | Medium-Scale Integration | 10 to 500 |
| LSI | Large-Scale Integration | 500 to 20,000 |
| VLSI | Very Large-Scale Integration | 20,000 to 1,000,000+ |
| ULSI | Ultra Large-Scale Integration | 1,000,000+ |
In 1965, Gordon Moore observed that the number of transistors on a chip doubles approximately every two years while the cost halves. This observation drove the semiconductor industry for over 50 years, leading to the supercomputers we now carry in our pockets.
From glowing gas-filled tubes to modern ultra-thin OLED screens, electronic displays have transformed how we interact with information.
Before flat screens, displays were bulky and relied on high-voltage physics.
The 1970s brought the first low-power portable displays.
Modern displays focus on high contrast, HDR, and flexibility.