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Bluetooth allows electronic devices to communicate over short distances and is used by billions of devices worldwide. Jaap Haartsen recalls the developments that led to the establishment of the Bluetooth wireless technology standard.
Spintronic devices, which exploit the spin of electrons for information processing and storage, are a key emerging technology in electronics. Supriyo Datta explains how emulating optical phenomena inspired his prediction of the spin transistor.
The spanning tree protocol is a key component of today’s Ethernet. Radia Perlman, inventor of the underlying algorithm, recounts how it was first developed.
Developments in nanotechnology in the 1990s made building electronic devices from single molecules a possibility. Cees Dekker recounts how his team created a room-temperature transistor based on a single carbon nanotube.
The discovery of the twisted nematic effect allowed liquid crystal displays to become a practical and ubiquitous technology. Martin Schadt recounts how it came about.
Thin-film transistors made from indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) are driving the next evolution in active-matrix flat panel displays. Hideo Hosono recounts how demand for a high-performance alternative to amorphous silicon transistors led to their development.
The emergence of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in the 1970s had a huge impact on the future of digital computing. Its inventor, Robert H. Dennard, explains how the drive for simplicity led to this breakthrough.
The memristor — a resistor with memory — was first postulated back in 1971, but it took nearly four decades before it was experimentally confirmed. Leon O. Chua explains how he developed a nonlinear circuit theory in which the memristor emerges naturally as the fourth basic circuit element.
An international collaboration between Philips and the Sony Corporation led to the creation of the compact disc. Kees A. Schouhamer Immink explains how it came about.
Progress in portable and ubiquitous electronics would not be possible without rechargeable batteries. John B. Goodenough recounts the history of the lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
Electronic devices today are untethered and always connected, and wireless networks have enabled this free flow of information. John O’Sullivan details the developments leading up to the establishment of the wireless network standard 802.11a, which is more commonly known as Wi-Fi.
The Intel 4004 is renowned as the world’s first commercial microprocessor. Project leader and designer of the 4004, Federico Faggin, retraces the steps leading to its invention.
