Silicon Chip Tecnology

Computer use is increasing in almost every field of endeavor. In an era of steadily
rising costs, computing costs have been decreasing dramatically because of rapid developments in both hardware and software technologies. A computer that filled large rooms and cost millions of dollars just two decades ago can now be inscribed on the surfaces of silicon chips smaller than fingernails, costing perhaps a few dollars each. Silicon is one of the most abundant materials on earth—it is an ingredient in common sand. Silicon chip technology has made computing so economical that hundreds of millions of general-purpose computers worldwide are helping people in business, industry, government and in their personal lives. The number of computers could easily double in a few years