Silicon Valley American Experience

Hi Readers,

In order to prepare for this trip I watched the movie Silicon Valley American Experience. Below are a few questions I had to answer.

1. When you think of Silicon Valley do you think of a place? An era? A Person? A movement?

When I think of Silicon Valley I think of a place first and then a movement.

2. What is its relevance in history or American culture?

Silicon Valley was where the Information Age began. It shifted our world from industrialization to an economy based on information computerization. Silicon Valley is in a sense where our technology today was born. Silicon Valley's business culture also inspires companies and organizations today. Their culture believed in openness over hierarchy, risk over stability, and innovation over tired and true. Their culture helped them become successful and companies today hope to use these beliefs for the same reason. 

3. Who was William Shockley and what was the controversy surrounding him and eight of his employees?

William Shockley was an American physicist and inventor. He was the owner of Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory and the mind behind technology that promised to be revolutionary. Shockley was working with eight employees to further develop this technology when his mind became erratic and unpredictable. Shockley started treating his employees like children. Eight of his most talented, young scientists and engineers went to Shockley's boss and asked for his to be fired. Once he said no, these eight employees held a secret meeting and conspired to quit Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory and create their own firm, Fairchild Semiconductor. They wanted to create this firm under the leadership of 29 year-old Robert Noyce.

4. Why is Robert Noyce so important in the founding of Silicon Valley?

Robert Noyce is so important in the founding because the eight employees that created the company, probably wouldn't have without Noyce's commitment to the company. Noyce gave Silicon Valley its name by creating the first microchip that fueled the personal computer revolution. Robert Noyce is also important in the founding of Silicon Valley because he is the co-founder of two major companies, Intel Corporation and Fairchild Semiconductor. 

5. What are some of the "Fairchildren" mentioned in the video? Where did this term originate?

Some "Farichildren" mentioned in this movie are Intel and AMD, and other spin-off companies. Sherman Fairchild saw the potential these eight employees had and if it wasn't for him they might not have had a company. Fairchild agreed to sponsor them and put up $1.3 million.

6. What were a few significant or interesting things you learned that were not mentioned above. 

One interesting thing I learned from researching Silicon Valley is that the large number of silicon chip innovators and manufactures is how they originally came up with the word "silicon" in Silicon Valley. It is also interesting that there are a quarter a million information technology workers in this region as of 2013.

Thank you for reading! I'll be in Silicon Valley and I look forward to updating you on my travels!
-Lauren Brehm