A breakthrough in electronics

The invention by De forest of the triode (electron tube with three electrodes) gave impetus to the further development of radio and reality TV.
In 1948 William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattejn invented the transistor. He, as well as e-lamp, amplified electrical signal, however, is much smaller in size, reliable (due to the absence of fragile filament) and consume much less energy.
Transistors, solid state devices, since it consists only of solid materials of semiconductors, of which the most commonly used silicon. Carefully selected amount and type of impurities determine the method of passing current, and provide the opportunity with the help of weak input current can cause significant changes in the output voltage.