Thanks Jack and RIP

[Nuuk]

All those who enjoy not only chip amps but most hi-fi electronics will mourn the passing of Jack Kilby who invented the integrated circuit.

Full story here

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Well said that man.

A sad day indeed.

Fil

[Russ White]

I will drink a toast to Mr. Kilby.

[ShinOBIWAN]

I'm very familar with Jack Kilby - luckily I got to take an indepth look at his life thanks to a proffessor at Sheffield University.

Very few men change the world for the better. Jack Kilby was one of those men. A true visionary and for that the world owes him a debt that can never be repaid.

Let us celebrate the work of a legend.

[Nuuk]

Very few men change the world for the better. Jack Kilby was one of those men. A true visionary and for that the world owes him a debt that can never be repaid.

That's very true. I always wonder if somebody hadn't invented something whether it is only a matter of time before somebody else does.

But the bottom line is certain people have been credited with inventing things which have made a huge impact on our world and in our lives and we should be grateful to them for their endeavours.

And we could argue for ages whether it is all for the good (thinking about some of the weapons systems that depend on the IC) but the bottom line is there is no such thing as a one sided piece of paper and we are obliged to take the 'good' with the 'bad'!

[ShinOBIWAN]

Originally posted by Nuuk
And we could argue for ages whether it is all for the good (thinking about some of the weapons systems that depend on the IC) but the bottom line is there is no such thing as a one sided piece of paper and we are obliged to take the 'good' with the 'bad'!

Come on Nuuk,

A rock is harmless until you give it to the wrong person and they use it as a weapon, steel is harmless until you cast it into a gun.

The IC does far more good than it ever contributes to bad, it saves lives in the form of hospital instruments and equipment, it provides enjoyment to millions each year through entertainment, It put the first man on the moon... the list goes on and on. If the IC dissappeared tommorow the world would be in chaos and war. So as you see its like everything else in the world, it is subject to abuse within the hands of the wrong individual but the mere fact that we have been given this wonderful tool and that it touches most peoples lives every day is incredible.

I don't think the Kilby' ever had any intention of this being used within weapons. What he did understand was that it would revolutionise electronics and bring about a new era of technology, he realised this when he was developing the first IC - like I said a true visionary.

[Nuuk]

I'm with you 100% Shinobiwan. The good side of inventions invariably out-weigh the bad but I was just making the point that it's not all good.

I would guess these inventors are so involved in their work that they hardly have time to consider the implications (even if they could imagine the developements say ten years ahead). And something like the IC seems pretty harmless! It may well have been different for the guys who worked on the atomic bomb!

[ShinOBIWAN]

And something like the IC seems pretty harmless! It may well have been different for the guys who worked on the atomic bomb!

Nuuk,

Oppenheimer and his team of scientist knew exactly what they were doing with the nuclear 'experiments' in the Manhatten project. The goal was to create a weapon, what they didn't realise was the magnitude of destruction they were capable of.

It was a race with Germany to be the first to create purified Uranium 235 - the stuff used in atomic bombs and later branched into nuclear power using fission reactors.

[Russ White]

Chips don't kill people, people kill people.

[Nuuk]

Chips don't kill people, people kill people.

Good point Russ and that goes for cars, knives, guns and ..............