Jack Kilby
An American electrical engineer who, along with Robert Noyce, invented the integrated circuit while working at Texas Instruments.
Most quoted
"I don't recall ever hearing Jack Kilby speak in a way that would be described as 'philosophically deep' or 'existentially profound.' His focus was always on the practical application of technology."
— from Historical accounts and interviews with colleagues
"The integrated circuit was not an invention in the sense of a single 'aha!' moment, but rather the culmination of a lot of hard work and many small steps."
— from Nobel Lecture, 2000
"We were trying to solve the 'tyranny of numbers' problem—the fact that as circuits became more complex, the number of connections became unmanageable."
— from Technical Explanation
All quotes by Jack Kilby (402)
The integrated circuit has enabled an explosion of creativity and innovation.
I'm just a normal guy who happened to work on something important.
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
The integrated circuit is a powerful example of how technology can improve lives.
I'm grateful for the opportunities I had and the people I worked with.
Curiosity is the engine of invention.
The integrated circuit has made the world a smaller and more connected place.
It was a lot of hard work, but it was also a lot of fun.
The integrated circuit is a testament to the power of human imagination.
I hope my work inspires others to pursue their own passions in science and engineering.
The integrated circuit was not the result of a single eureka moment, but rather a series of logical steps in miniaturization.
Engineers are practical people who like to get things done, often without the luxury of grand visions.
The potential of semiconductor technology seemed unlimited, but it required integrating components on a single chip to realize it.
Innovation in electronics comes from solving immediate problems, not from dreaming of the distant future.
I just wanted to see if I could make all the components on one piece of silicon; the rest followed.
The chip changed the world more than any other invention since the wheel, but it started with a simple idea.
Persistence in the face of skepticism is the hallmark of true invention.
Technology advances when we stop thinking in terms of discrete parts and start thinking in systems.
My greatest satisfaction came not from awards, but from seeing the integrated circuit in everyday devices.
Invention is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, but in semiconductors, it's mostly troubleshooting.
Contemporaries of Jack Kilby
Other Inventions born within 50 years of Jack Kilby (1923–2005).