Why were semiconductors invented in the USA? [YouTube]

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3 points·johncole··8 comments

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I always thought it was because the USA had the best resources for producing semi-electricity in the mid-20th century.

I've never heard that theory before, that we had the best electricity production?

*semi-electricity, because semiconductors conduct semi-electricity. Hehehe

The video version of a talk I gave here in Almaty a few weeks ago.

The written blog was shared earlier on HN here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47937611

Just lazy stereotypes and talking out of ass.

Why are these lazy stereotypes?

Any history book trying to quantify the US semiconductor industry can point to real quantifiable things.

1. The US was only major Economy after WWII that came out unscratched and with lots of capital. Japan, Europe started from ruins with no capital.

2. 1956 Consent Degree and the pressure from looming future antitrust investigations. Transistor technology became available for startups. William Shockley was able to leave Dell to develop semiconductors elsewhere because this decision. It was probably the most significant lawsuit in the history and caused massive explosion of innovations. Almost 8000 patents became available.

3. Cold war, Minuteman II production. In 1962, the U.S. government purchased 100% of all integrated circuits produced in the country.

1. This was a contributing factor for sure. 2. Antitrust investigations were covered in the talk. 3. This definitely spurred US production and development for sure.

But are these stereotypes or just contributing factors?

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