The 1970s – semiconductors go mainstream

Recap

Building on the costly, government-backed semiconductor efforts of the 1950s, the 1960s saw the revolutionary introduction of integrated circuits (ICs), moving beyond discrete transistors to more complex, multi-component chips. The decade was defined by the transition to large-scale manufacturing, supported by advances like the planar process, which significantly improved yields. While early ICs remained expensive, pricing strategies evolved, introducing volume discounts and value-based models. Military and aerospace applications drove early adoption, but by the end of the 1960s, the commercial potential of semiconductors—particularly in computing and telecommunications—was becoming clear.

In the 1970s,…