In 1948, there were two major developments in the Bell Telephone Laboratories which might initially appear unconnected, but acting together they were to create the modern world. The first announcement was of the invention of a tiny electronic device, described in the press release that "it may have far-reaching significance in electronics and electrical communication". That was definitely an understatement. The tiny device rather unimpressively resembled an insect with a small body and spindly legs. It was called the transistor.
