Whenever I look at the devices we carry in our pockets today, I can’t help but think about how far we’ve come — and how fast we got here. From room-sized machines to wearable tech, the evolution of hardware and general technology has shaped everything else we do: coding, data science, communication, even creativity.
In this post on my blog, I wanted to step back from just software and explore how the physical tools of our digital world have transformed over time.
From Tubes to Transistors
It all began with vacuum tubes. The earliest computers — think ENIAC in the 1940s — used massive arrays of these power-hungry components. Machines were bulky, slow, and prone to failure. But they worked, and that was enough to kick off a revolution.
The invention of the transistor in 1947 changed everything. Smaller, more efficient, and more reliable, transistors quickly replaced vacuum tubes and laid the groundwork for modern electronics. What followed in the 1960s was the integrated circuit, which allowed multiple transistors to live on a single chip. Suddenly, hardware was becoming compact and powerful at the same time.
The Birth of the Personal Computer
The 1970s and 80s were when computing became personal. Companies like Apple, IBM, and Commodore introduced machines that could sit on a desk — or eventually, on your lap. Processors like the Intel 8086 and Motorola 68000 became legends, not just for what they did but for what they made possible.
More importantly, these machines democratized computing. Programming, gaming, graphic design, and early internet access started happening in homes and schools. A lot of us today, including myself, were introduced to the magic of tech through these early devices.
Mobility, Miniaturization, and Smart Everything
By the 1990s and early 2000s, we started caring less about what was on our desk and more about what we could carry. Laptops, PDAs, and eventually smartphones took over the spotlight. With them came major leaps in battery life, connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), and display tech.
Touchscreens replaced keyboards. Cameras became essential. GPS became normal. And suddenly, your phone was more powerful than the desktops from just a few years earlier.
At the same time, consumer tech boomed: gaming consoles, wearables, drones, smartwatches, smart TVs — all of it designed to make tech invisible yet indispensable.
Modern Hardware: Silent, Seamless, Specialized
Today, we don’t even think about hardware unless it breaks. That’s how seamless it has become. Devices are faster, thinner, lighter, and yet packed with more power than ever before.
We’ve got ARM chips powering laptops, liquid-cooled GPUs, edge devices for IoT, and even modular frameworks that allow for sustainable upgrades. AI accelerators like TPUs are changing how machines learn. SSDs have nearly wiped out traditional hard drives.
And with innovations like Apple’s M-series chips or Raspberry Pi 5, we’re seeing a clear trend: more performance, less energy, and broader access.
I often write about this on salimkilinc.com because I believe understanding hardware helps us become better developers, builders, and thinkers.
Where We’re Headed
Quantum computing is on the horizon. So is neuromorphic hardware. Foldables are improving. Augmented reality is waiting for its mainstream moment.
But regardless of what comes next, one thing stays true: Technology always evolves — and it often does so quietly. What feels like science fiction today might just be another regular feature on your device tomorrow.
That’s what excites me. And that’s why I’ll keep sharing my thoughts about it here.