Published: July 08, 2011

U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 9

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WASHINGTON, July 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SATURDAY, JULY 9: TRANSISTOR

Profile America -- Saturday, July 9th. One of the most important inventions of our times was announced this week by Bell Laboratories in New Jersey -- the transfer resistance device -- far better known as the transistor. The small, simple and tough transistor replaced fragile, bulky and heat-generating vacuum tubes, which had been the heart of electronics for decades. The discovery led to the development of the integrated circuit and the microprocessor that are the basis of modern electronics. Today, transistor technology makes possible the devices we take for granted in daily life, as well as satellites and medical equipment. Making semiconductors and other components for electronics is a $123 billion a year business in the U.S. Profile America is in its 15th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: Computer History Museum

2007 Economic Census, NAICS 33441

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau