Socioeconomic significance of microelectronics

Throughout history technology has been a powerful force for economic and social change. For much of the time this change is evolutionaiy but occasionally a technological development brings about a major reshaping of society, e.g. the printing press or steam engine. Are we currently living through such a period? The paper examines the present state of technological development, and concludes that we are coming to the end of an era. There is need for a new stimulus. An examination of the attributes of microelectronics indicates that they have outstanding potential for bringing about this change, not only in industry but throughout society. The transition to a new form of society could be painful unless the nature of the technology and the implications of its application are understood. The paper indicates some of the economic and social significance of the introduction of microelectronics systems.