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John Joe
John Joe
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The history of computers seems somewhat pervasive since there are so many steps in modern manufacturing and so many changes in trends with transistors over many years. Grasping how we got to our current level of processing power seems somewhat like a chicken/egg situation. How exactly were we able to create such precise processors when we only could have had more primitive tools to craft them with? For instance, take the UV stencil used on a silicon wafer to make a CPU.

How could engineers have designed a machine capable of cuttingetching out so many millions of transistors in the stencil given that they didn't originally have access to that level of processing that they are trying to achieve? Or in other words, how is it possible for computers to evolve in the process of making more precise machines from less precise machines?

The history of computers seems somewhat pervasive since there are so many steps in modern manufacturing and so many changes in trends with transistors over many years. Grasping how we got to our current level of processing power seems somewhat like a chicken/egg situation. How exactly were we able to create such precise processors when we only could have had more primitive tools to craft them with? For instance, take the UV stencil used on a silicon wafer to make a CPU.

How could engineers have designed a machine capable of cutting out so many millions of transistors in the stencil given that they didn't originally have access to that level of processing that they are trying to achieve? Or in other words, how is it possible for computers to evolve in the process of making more precise machines from less precise machines?

The history of computers seems somewhat pervasive since there are so many steps in modern manufacturing and so many changes in trends with transistors over many years. Grasping how we got to our current level of processing power seems somewhat like a chicken/egg situation. How exactly were we able to create such precise processors when we only could have had more primitive tools to craft them with? For instance, take the UV stencil used on a silicon wafer to make a CPU.

How could engineers have designed a machine capable of etching out so many millions of transistors in the stencil given that they didn't originally have access to that level of processing that they are trying to achieve? Or in other words, how is it possible for computers to evolve in the process of making more precise machines from less precise machines?

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John Joe
John Joe
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ItThe history of computers seems somewhat pervasive since there are so many steps in modern manufacturing and so many changes in trends with transistors over many years. Grasping how we got to our current level of processing power seems somewhat like a chicken/egg situation. How exactly were we able to create such precise processors when we only could have had more primitive tools to craft them with? For instance, take the UV stencil used on a silicon wafer to make a CPU.

How could engineers have designed a machine capable of cutting out so many millions of transistors in the stencil beforegiven that they invented a computer capable of registering so many digitsdidn't originally have access to that level of detail in this new stencil in the first place? Because if they already had a machineprocessing that useful and precise, then why would they have neededare trying to make a newer versionachieve? It would be like using a steel knifeOr in other words, how is it possible for computers to carve a wooden knife.evolve in the process of making more precise machines from less precise machines?

It seems somewhat like a chicken/egg situation. How exactly were we able to create such precise processors when we only could have had more primitive tools to craft them with? For instance, take the UV stencil used on a silicon wafer to make a CPU.

How could engineers have designed a machine capable of cutting out so many millions of transistors in the stencil before they invented a computer capable of registering so many digits of detail in this new stencil in the first place? Because if they already had a machine that useful and precise, then why would they have needed to make a newer version? It would be like using a steel knife to carve a wooden knife.

The history of computers seems somewhat pervasive since there are so many steps in modern manufacturing and so many changes in trends with transistors over many years. Grasping how we got to our current level of processing power seems somewhat like a chicken/egg situation. How exactly were we able to create such precise processors when we only could have had more primitive tools to craft them with? For instance, take the UV stencil used on a silicon wafer to make a CPU.

How could engineers have designed a machine capable of cutting out so many millions of transistors in the stencil given that they didn't originally have access to that level of processing that they are trying to achieve? Or in other words, how is it possible for computers to evolve in the process of making more precise machines from less precise machines?

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John Joe
John Joe
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How did scientists develop the stencils that made even more precise processors than they had previously?

It seems somewhat like a chicken/egg situation. How exactly were we able to create such precise processors when we only could have had more primitive tools to craft them with? For instance, take the UV stencil used on a silicon wafer to make a CPU.

How could engineers have designed a machine capable of cutting out so many millions of transistors in the stencil before they invented a computer capable of registering so many digits of detail in this new stencil in the first place? Because if they already had a machine that useful and precise, then why would they have needed to make a newer version? It would be like using a steel knife to carve a wooden knife.