Historical Counterfactual Analysis
If the transistor had been invented in 1920 instead of 1947, trace the likely technological, economic, and geopolitical implications through…
GLM 51,134 words
Moving the invention of the transistor from 1947 to 1920 alters the fundamental trajectory of the 20th century. It compresses the electronic age, shifting the "Digital Revolution" from the 1980s to the 1950s. Here is a trace of the implications through 1980. I.Read the full answer
Hy3921 words
Premise: A functional solid-state transistor (germanium point-contact or junction) is demonstrated in 1920, with steady refinement through the interwar years. Vacuum tubes are not immediately displaced, but by the early 1930s transistors are reliable enough for niche military and telecom use, and by the late 1930s they…Read the full answer
