In 1956, the Nobel Prize in Physics went to three American Physicists, Walter Houser Brattain, John Bardeen, and William Bradford Shockley. These physicists designed the first transistor in 1947, opening the doors to transistor radios, space flight, hearing aids, amplifiers, switches and computers. According to the Nobel Prize website, today's transistors are smaller than a strand of human hair. There are many uses of transistors and some are likely top secret.
Amplification
Amplifiers use transistors to amplify sound. Microphones, guitars, keyboards and electronic drums use the transistors to send out electronic sound.
Switching
Switches turn on and off with the use of transistors. Switches can be found on amplifiers, airplanes, automobiles, houses, lamps and radios.
Computers
Many tiny transistors work within a computer to calculate and transmit binary codes to other transistors. The transistors work as a group called an integrated circuit.
Hearing Aids
Tiny transistors help people with hearing loss hear. The tiny transistors amplify sound at an adjustable level to the hearing aid owner.
Radios
Transistors helped bring personal radios to many people in the 1960s and helped improve communication.
Space Exploration
The improvements and new uses for transistors helped the cause of space exploration. With its use in computers, communications and switches, the transistor made it possible to launch humankind to the moon, and set into the planet's orbit large telescopes to help with the study of the universe.
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