When was the integrated circuit developed?

The integrated circuit was developed in 1958 by Jack Kilby, who was working at Texas Instruments. This breakthrough allowed multiple electronic components to be fabricated onto a single piece of semiconductor material, which drastically reduced the size and cost of electronic devices while enhancing their reliability. Kilby's invention laid the groundwork for modern electronics, enabling the development of compact devices such as computers, smartphones, and a myriad of other electronic products. The timeline of integrated circuits is crucial in understanding the evolution of technology, as it marked the transition from earlier technologies like vacuum tubes and discrete components to the more efficient and powerful systems we use today. The other options, while they may represent milestones in electronics or other advancements from the period, do not accurately reflect the initial creation of integrated circuits.