xthao2's blog

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of interviewing my grandmother over the phone. Hearing her perspective on how the world functioned before semiconductors were everywhere, both funny and eye-opening. At first, she wasn’t even sure what a semiconductor was. When I explained that they’re the invisible devices inside everything from cell phones to TVs to modern cars, she laughed and said, "Well, no wonder I didn’t know, I just use the things, not build them." That got the ball rolling, and she started sharing what life was like before all of these inventions.

Is there anyone in 2025 still using cable phones? The answer is yes, my grandfather! While many of us rely on smartphones every day, he still chooses the comfort of a landline. For some older adults, newer technology is harder to maneuver while younger people find it to be second nature. This contrast reminds us of how easy it is to take our phones for granted which lets us forget how much they’ve evolved. In fact, most people don't stop to consider what's inside our smartphones that make this possible; semiconductor devices.