OT: Jack Kilby, inventor, died at age 81

[Kismet]

http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/kilbyctr/jackstclair.shtml


what did he invent?
(Well, as DIJ said, the integrated circuit.)
http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/21/HNjackkilbyobit_1.html

the microchip.

Edison, Ford, Kilby

Few outside Texas Instruments, and the history of electronic development, are even aware of his name. A shame. He was a low-level guy who did what the top professionals in the field didn't think could be done. The first circuit had about 5 functions. Today's chips have as many as a half of a billion.

Money? Not much. The founders of Google are multi-billionaires; Kilby made a nice living, but not extravagant.

 

[FallingKnife]

I got the impression that because he was the new guy, he was stuck in the office while everyone else took off on vacation. While the cat was away, as it were, the world changed.

 

[DannyinJapan]

Jack was a Dallas legend.
Nobody here needs reminding what he did.
I bet there will be thousands at his funeral.
(There ought to be millions)
Jack invented the integrated circuit and the electronic calculator and basically changed the whole world by himself...