Modern computing on the head of a pin

The transistor was invented by Bell Labs scientists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley to replace the vacuum tube. It soon proved its worth with its ability to amplify electrical signals and to switch them on and off.

The transistor's smaller size, higher reliability, lower power consumption and lower cost revolutionised both the form factor and economics of electronic devices.

Since its invention, the size of transistors has continued to shrink to the point where, today, more than six billion transistors — about one for every human alive today — could fit easily in an area the size of a credit card.

The transistor was first manufactured commercially at the former Western Electric plant (which later became Agere Systems) on Union Boulevard in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1951. Agere merged with LSI Logic on 2 April, 2007 to form LSI Corporation.

Abhi Talwalkar, president of LSI Corporation, said: "It's often said that today's accomplishments are possible because we stand on the shoulders of giants from the previous generation."

"That statement is especially true today as we celebrate the invention of the transistor, arguably the most important invention of the 20th century. Fortunately, the innovative spirit that created the transistor burns as brightly as ever today."