Imagine a time before personal computers were commonplace. A time when the idea of carrying a powerful computing device in your pocket was the stuff of science fiction. Today, we're so accustomed to our digital devices that it's hard to believe there was a time when they didn't exist. But before the tech giants we know today, like Apple, Google, and Facebook, there was a nascent industry centered around a seemingly mundane material: silicon.
Silicon Valley, as it's known today, didn't start as a tech haven. In fact, it was once an area known for its orchards, producing some of the finest apricots and cherries. However, in the 1950s and 60s, this region in Northern California began to transform. This transformation was driven by visionary engineers and entrepreneurs who saw the potential of silicon semiconductors.