American Experience: Silicon Valley, an episode of the PBS series “The American Experience,” explores the genesis of Silicon Valley and startup culture in the United States. Released on February 5, 2013, the documentary investigates the scientists and innovators who transformed Santa Clara County into a hub of technological advancement.

Summary
The film highlights Robert Noyce, a physicist who co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957 and later co-founded Intel in 1968, as a central figure in the rise of Silicon Valley. Noyce and his colleagues at Fairchild Semiconductor pioneered the use of silicon in transistors and developed the integrated circuit, also known as the microchip. The documentary emphasizes the significance of the integrated circuit, which is essential to PCs, space exploration, and smartphones.

The documentary also explores the early days of Fairchild Semiconductor, including the founders’ departure from Shockley Semiconductor and the company’s initial struggles. It also looks at the transformation of Santa Clara Valley from an agricultural area to a center of technological innovation.

Cast and Crew
The documentary features interviews with experts such as Leslie Berlin, author of “The Man Behind the Microchip,” and Michael Malone, author of “A Silicon Valley Notebook 1963-2001”.