Jack Kilby

Jack Kilby

The inventor of the microchip changed our everyday world. There were computers, but they took up an entire room! Jack Kilby was the inventor of the microchip. To make this possible, it took determination, hard work, and inventive thinking.

Kilby’s determination led him to his success. When Jack couldn’t find the right kind of metal, he kept searching. Eventually, he found it: Silicon. Over the summer when he was working for Texas Instruments (TI), Kilby was working on his circuit. For months he worked on the problem commonly called, “The tyranny of numbers.” Finally, he found the answer: a semi transistor would do the trick. Yes, he did have setbacks, but that couldn’t stop him from success.

Another noteworthy trait of Jack Kilby is his hard work. Kilby worked for years on trying to get his integrated circuit right. Even though setbacks were around every corner, Kilby still was able to use his resourcefulness to overcome these obstacles in everyway he could. Working at TI, Kilby worked full time to achieve his success. All this work helped him be successful in life. Jack worked to further success until he died on June 20th, 2005 after a brief battle of cancer. He was at a good age of 81 when he died. He worked his whole life, refusing to go into retirement.

Jack Kilby had a very inventive mind that led to the invention of the microchip. When he was little, he always was interested in electronics. He thought that those huge computers that took up an entire room could fit into a smaller shape. This helped him know and pursue his goal. Thinking of different ideas, Jack worked to create his chip. He had no idea that HIS idea would change the world forever.

Think for a moment that Kilby never made the microchip. It surely would have been invented, but about a year slower. We wouldn’t have all the advanced technology we have today. Life for us all would be different. His success came from determination, hard work, and an inventive mind. Jack Kilby changed our lives forever.