This course relates number systems to the underlying digital electronic components (esp. transistors) that are the basis for computers and other digital devices. The concepts of binary, On/Off and transistors operating as a “switch” will be unified. Special attention will be given to the story behind the invention of the transistor through an excellent video that shows its significance and its foundation for much of what goes on in Silicon Valley. Students will be given an opportunity to handle transistors, and a basic introduction to digital circuits will be given. We will show how transistors can be used as a switch to illuminate an LED in a simple circuit. We will present a brief introduction to microprocessors (Pentium® CPU’s) so that the student understands how a computer computes. Finally, we will introduce truth tables (AND, OR, and NOT), and show how transistors are used as building blocks to construct more complicated integrated circuits that form the basis of microprocessors, memory, and storage devices (it all comes back to the transistor!). The class will culminate in a field trip to the Intel Museum in Santa Clara. Course will be a combination of hands-on, demonstration/lecture, video segments, and computer-aided instruction through CD software.