Geoffrey W.A. Dummer, MBE (1909 – February, 2002) is credited as being the first person to conceptualise the integrated circuit, commonly called the microchip, in the late-1940s and early 1950s. Dummer was also a pioneer of reliability engineering at the Telecommunications Research Establishment in Malvern in the 1940s. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand Cross... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Integrated circuit showing memory blocks, logic and input/output pads around the periphery A monolithic integrated circuit (also known as IC, microchip, silicon chip, computer chip or chip) is a miniaturized electronic circuit (consisting mainly of semiconductor devices, as well as passive components) which has been manufactured in the surface... // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... The 1950s were the decade that traditionally speaking, spanned the years 1950 through 1959. ... Reliability concerns quality or consistency. ... The Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) was established in Malvern, England in 1940 as the central research group for RAF applications of radar. ... Malvern is the name of a town in Worcestershire, England. ... // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ...

Dummer studied electrical engineering at Manchester College of Technology starting in the early 1930s. By the early 1940s he was working at the Telecommunications Research Establishment in Malvern (later to become the Royal Radar Establishment). The Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) was established in Malvern, England in 1940 as the central research group for RAF applications of radar. ... Malvern is the name of a town in Worcestershire, England. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

His work with colleagues at TRE led him to the belief that it would be possible to fabricate multiple circuit elements on and into a substance like silicon. In 1952 he presented his work at a conference in Washington, DC, some six years before Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments was awarded a patent for essentially the same idea, but who did go on to manufacture working devices. General Name, Symbol, Number silicon, Si, 14 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 14, 3, p Appearance dark gray, bluish tinge Atomic mass 28. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Jack St. ... Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), better known in the electronics industry (and popularly) as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, USA, renowned for developing and commercializing semiconductor and computer technology. ... A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a state to a person for a fixed period of time in exchange for the regulated, public disclosure of certain details of a device, method, process or composition of matter (substance) (known as an invention) which is new, inventive, and...

In the UK of course, Dummer's groundbreaking ideas were derided and dismissed, and no finance for further development was available by either private or public finance so yet again British technology which could have led the world was discounted, rather like the ideas of Barnes Wallis' BAC TSR-2, or the technology of the Frank Whittle Whittle jet engine which was given away to the other Allies at the end of World War II. Sir Barnes Neville Wallis Sir Barnes Neville Wallis, CBE, FRS, RDI, commonly known as Barnes Wallis, (September 26, 1887 – October 30, 1979) was a British scientist, engineer and inventor. ... The British Aircraft Corporations TSR-2 was an ill-fated Cold War project in the early 1960s to create what would, at that time, have been one of the most advanced aircraft in the world. ... Frank Whittle speaking to employees of NASA Glenn Research Center, USA, in 1946 Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE (1 June 1907–9 August 1996) was a Royal Air Force officer who invented the jet engine. ... A Pratt and Whitney turbofan engine for the F-15 Eagle is tested at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, USA. The tunnel behind the engine muffles noise and allows exhaust to escape. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the use of images on this page may require cleanup, involving adjustment of image placement, formatting, size, or other adjustments. ...

External links

• BBC news article - UK missed out on microchip