Honoring Jack Kilby and the chip that Jack built

Today, we celebrate Jack Kilby, an amazing man C a modest man C whos had an enormous impact on peoples lives all over the world. It was 50 years ago today that Jack invented the integrated circuit and opened up an infinite number of new possibilities for using technology to solve problems and improve the way we live. To describe the role Jacks invention has played over the last five decades, I have to borrow from TR Reid and his book, The Chip. Reid called the integrated circuit an idea of literally cosmic dimensions— because it changed the daily life of almost everyone on earth for the better. Engineering textbooks have called it the monolithic idea. And in the year 2000, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences honored Jack with the Nobel Prize in physics.

In fact, the IC was an idea so revolutionary, so life-changing, we dont even remember the world before it came along. And we cant imagine life without it. So let me tell you about Jacks world in 1958, what life looked like before his monolithic idea:

A computer was known as a RAMAC, and it had to be housed in a room about 9 m by 15 m. It had a 16 sq ft. disk storage unit — that you could lease for $35,000 per year, and it stored 64,000 punch cards.

Back then, a telephone had a rotary dial and plugged into the wall; "mobile" meant you could shift the receiver from one ear to the other. And it offered only two functions: You could make a call, or you could receive a call — if you were home. And the features? You could choose from 9 different colors and set the ringer to "loud" or "soft."

For people in 1958, a television wasn't really technology; it was a piece of furniture with a 14-inch screen that weighed 50 lbs. You watched a black and white picture, and you only had channels 2-13 on a dial. But that was okay, because you only had 3 networks. And here's the cool part: You could get a remote control to turn it on, turn it off, and switch between your 3 channels.

Now, contrast that with the 2-lb laptops, cell phones and HDTVs we have today. Even more important, think about the greatest moments in your life and the role Jack's chip played in making those moments possible:

• Seeing your child for the first time in a sonogram image
• Getting a call on your cell phone while you're in the airport on a layover, and it's your daughter wishing you a happy birthday
• Driving cross country with your family, singing along to your favorite songs playing on the car CD player
• Opening a musical greeting card for the first time, something sent to you from an old friend, and hearing the theme from the Flintstones.

Think about the phone calls you've made, the e-mails you've sent, the pictures you've shared — and then think about people on the other side of the world, the people of Sichuan province, and our ability to find out quickly about the earthquake and the impact on their lives. And then through the punch of a button on a PC keyboard, even here in the comfort and safety of Dallas, Texas, within seconds, we could donate money to the Chinese Red Cross; follow their story; share the news; and encourage others to help.

Through Jacks tiny chip, in the best times and in the worst, we are able to connect, share information, and pull together. It truly is an invention of "cosmic dimensions" because it both impacts all of us as individuals and brings us closer together as a global community.

Jacks legacy at TI

Thats a big statement, and one Jack probably would have taken issue with. Jack never saw himself as a great scientist, someone who could expand our knowledge of the universe or develop theories on the nature of life. Jack saw himself an engineer. His role was to solve problems. It was as simple as that.

So in 1958, as a young TI engineer, when Jack was working in microminiaturization, his job was to bring down the size and cost of semiconductor components. That was the problem. And inventing the integrated circuit was his solution. When people made a big fuss over the role he played in leading us into the Digital Age, Jack would quote Charles Townes, who won the Nobel Prize in 1964:

"When I hear that kind of thing, it reminds me of what the beaver told the rabbit as they
stood at the base of Hoover Dam: 'No, I didn't build it myself, but it's based on an idea of mine.'"

Jack credited every electrical engineer who came after him with transforming the world. He described his role as only "a small part" of turning a creative idea into reality.

It's interesting to note that when Jack won the Nobel Prize in 2000, he delivered a Laureate Lecture entitled "Turning Potential into Realities." That's what Jack believed his responsibility was as an engineer, to go beyond a great idea and actually build it. His legacy to us, to all of us, certainly, is the integrated circuit and the Digital Age he made possible.

But Jack is more than an inventor. He is a true hero — an inspiration to all of us working in technology. And his invention is a reminder of the responsibility that we, as engineers, have in making ours a better world. Our job is to look around us, ask questions, take on the toughest problems, imagine new solutions — and then go build them.

At TI, there is no question what our mission is. There are millions of people in this world without access to high-quality, reliable medical care, either because they cant afford it, or there are no doctors or hospitals nearby. Moreover, all across the globe, we need to discover new energy solutions, as well as make our traditional sources cleaner, safer and more efficient. And we have to find new sources — new ways to make, move and use power.

We believe that semiconductor innovation has an important role to play in taking on these challenges. Like Jack Kilby, we are motivated not by the pursuit of knowledge but by the simple need to make things better. We are in a privileged position — using technology to solve big problems is not only good for the future of our company, it is also good for the quality of our lives.

We have been part of Jacks revolution. We have helped put cell phones into the hands of millions of people around the globe — many of whom have never before been connected. We have helped bring the size of a high-precision sonogram machine from hundreds of pounds to a unit that can fit into a doctors backpack — and can be taken to the patient, anywhere in the world. We have helped make antilock breaking systems and air bag systems nearly standard in every new car in the U.S. We have come a million miles since Jack invented his chip. But there are still many more miles left to travel: much more we can do and millions more lives to touch.

Looking ahead

At TI, our passion for solving tough problems lies at the heart of everything we do. It is a culture that attracted and nurtured Jack Kilby, and its a culture that continues to foster new ideas and champion innovation. We are committed to maintaining that culture, that passion for problem-solving, because our companys long-term success depends upon our ability to imagine a better world and to create the technology to make it possible.

The best way to honor Jack Kilby and celebrate his contributions is to build on his legacy. So, today, we are announcing our plans for Kilby Labs, a new TI innovation center to be located here on our North Campus. This center is not only named after Jack — it is inspired by his spirit, his creativity, and his commitment to improving lives through semiconductor technology.

Kilby Labs will be a place where people with great ideas can work in small teams to address real problems, especially in critical areas, such as health care, power and safety. Fifty years ago, Jack Kilby started a revolution. TIs new Kilby Labs will continue to fuel that revolution, finding new ways to improve the way we live.

Finally, Id like to share one of my favorite stories about Jack Kilby. A few years before Jack won the Nobel Prize, he was speaking to a group of TI employees. When he finished his talk, a woman in the audience asked him, "What can we do to help our children invent new things?" And Jack told her, "Read them fairy tales." That was Jack: a hero, an artist, a philanthropist, a genius —and a real believer in the power of the imagination.