Transistorized Questions

Transistorized

What technology was used prior to transistors to amplify a signal? How did it change the history of communications in the US? What was the metaphor that the video used to describe how this technology worked?

Transistors can transfer electrical signals as they are transferred through it. Prior to the transistors the vacuum tube was used. The invention of the transistor affected business, education and culture. The transistor made it able for astronauts to communicate back down to earth which therefore shrank our world through communication. The transistor boosted the electrical signal which enabled coast to coast communication. The metaphor that the video used for the vacuum tube was the monkeys throwing pebbles at a target through a shutter. The monkeys are throwing electrons at the shutter which represents the wire and rejects or allows electrons to go through based on its charge.

Describe the break through in the 1947 that made the transistor a reality?

They needed to make something better than the vacuum tube because there were problems with it and if the telephone lines would be dependent on these, the growth would be limited. Shockley led a team of physics, chemists, engineers to create the future of the vacuum tube, a semi-conductor amplifier. Shockley's field effect device did not work. Barden believed that electrons were trapped on the surface of the silicon creating a shield so the electric field could not reach the electrons on the inside. The breakthrough for the transistor was where a spot of gold on the germanium, which allowed direct charges into the germanium. 

What do we learn from watching this video about group and team dynamics that we can apply to our own situation? What was successful about this team? What was its downfall?

The team of physicists, chemists, engineers collaborated and worked freely and well as cohesively. When Shockley creating a prototype that did not work, Barden reevaluated the field effect device and he was able to see the behavior of the electrons could be a problem. When they were not able to find a result for a while, then is when struggles within the group happened. After further research months later, they were able to still experiment and find a solution and a breakthrough. This can be applied in a situation of working in a group and team, having other eyes can help find solutions to a problem you might have. Also the big lesson is not to give up. Trying different solutions and configurations and perseverance will pay off whether there might be turmoil within the group from the stress of not coming to a solution. The downfall of the group was the unfortunate tension created by not finding a solution to the problem for a while, but working for months and months paid off! yay team Another downfall was the credit given to Bardeen and Branton and not Shockley for the invention. Shockley took advantage of the problems with Braittan and Bardeen to create a better transistor (the three layer sandwich) which obviously created a riff in the group. Also, patent problems for the invention. So much drama. 

What medic and social changes occurred as a result of the transistor?

The transistor radio market was changing, could carry around small, portable radio and people could listen to radio broadcasts all over. The transistor radio became the first tool of the information age. Intel was created and made computer chips with millions of transistors in each chip. Intel, motorola... Any broadcast in any language could be broadcasted to the transistor radio in their native language whether people knew how to read or write. Communication all over the world which made the world a little smaller.