Share: What do you think of when you hear the words “Silicon Valley”? If your mind conjures up images of mammoth tech organizations like Google, Netflix, and Facebook, small scrappy startups with lots of venture funding, and a hit HBO show, you’re probably among the majority of folks. However, software and startups are not the original cast of characters, and with these players often taking most of the headlines, it can be easy to forget about the hardware revolution that took place and the semiconductor manufacturers that gave the region its name. It seems that in the last 5 years, a lot of the world has also forgotten just how important these tiny devices are to the tech-filled lives we lead. This year has been a serious wake-up call.