Becca King, Author at Shortform Books

Cold War Technology: The Power of the Semiconductor

What Cold War technology emerged in the 1940s and 1950s? How did military investment influence the development of electronics? Cold War technology centered on semiconductors and computer chips used for intelligence, guiding weaponry, and more. By understanding how the military influenced technological research and development, you can develop a better grasp of economic history. Read on to learn more about how semiconductors developed through the Cold War.

Chip War: Miller’s History of the Semiconductor, Explained

What can we learn from Chris Miller’s Chip War? What is there to know about the economic history of the semiconductor? In Chip War, Miller describes the growth of the semiconductor industry from invention to globalized mass production. He walks through each step of the semiconductor’s technological development, highlighting key international competitors in the industry. Read on for insights and explanations drawn from Chris Miller’s Chip War.

Leadership Succession Planning: Best Practices & Principles

What are the best strategies for leadership succession planning in business? How can succession planning keep your business strong long term? Leadership succession planning involves training employees to take on leadership positions and focusing on the company mission rather than your own personal direction. To lead a business successfully, you need to plan for its long-term success even after you’re gone. Learn how to successfully plan for leadership changes and prepare your company for longevity.

How to Make Positive Life Changes That Stick

Want to know how to make positive life changes? What does it take to make changes that stick? To make positive life changes, plan the timing of your change well, develop self-confidence, and find peers who will support you and influence you for the better. Knowing how to make changes effectively can make a big difference in whether you achieve your goals. Continue reading to learn useful ways to make life changes.

Friendships and Mental Health: Why Community Is Healing

How are friendships and mental health related? Can being part of a community boost your mental health? Friendships and mental health are linked because having social support decreases the likelihood of lasting illness. Seeing how social support can benefit patients proves how valuable friendships are, and it shows us why being a good friend is important. Take a look at the importance of friendship in this case study on healing from trauma.

Who Invented the Semiconductor Chip? A History of Transistors

Who invented the semiconductor chip? And who invented the transistor? The semiconductor chip was invented by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments in 1958, building on William Shockley’s invention of the transistor in 1947 at Bell Labs. However, there’s more to the story than these individual inventors, and a deeper dive into these inventions shows that there were more players involved. Learn more about the beginnings of the semiconductor chip with this history of invention.

How to Build Brand Loyalty by Using Influence

Can you learn how to build brand loyalty? What does it take to create loyal customers? To build brand loyalty, you need to have influence in your community. This means that you need to understand how to develop a strong company mission that your customers can connect to. Read on to learn more about creating brand loyalty with social influence.

Make Habits Stick by Reframing Negative Behaviors

What are the best strategies to make habits stick? What makes change last? Making habits stick requires prioritizing your goals long-term rather than trying to change them in a day. Knowing specific strategies for accomplishing this can make a big difference. Consider these strategies when you need to make a change that lasts.

The Importance of Patient History-Taking in Children

What is the importance of patient history-taking? How can an understanding of a patient’s history inform treatment? The importance of patient history-taking is that it can provide context for a patient’s symptoms vital for diagnosis, and it can offer insight into which treatments may work. A look at case studies in which patient history proved essential demonstrates how important this is. Continue reading to learn why patient history is important, as demonstrated by these pediatric case studies.

What Is Moore’s Law? Predicting the Evolution of Electronics

What is Moore’s law? Can we still use Moore’s law today? Moore’s law states that the number of transistors that can fit on a microchip will double every two years and that the cost of each transistor will decrease. Since it was first predicted in 1965, this has been roughly accurate; however, understanding whether we can use Moore’s law today requires a more thorough look. Read on to learn more about what Moore’s law is and whether it still makes sense today.