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Which everyday products began using microprocessors by the mid-1980s?
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integrated circuit
A typical integrated circuit, shown on a fingernail.
By the mid-1980s, the widespread availability of inexpensive microprocessors enabled the integration of computing power into a vast array of consumer and industrial products. This technological shift allowed for sophisticated electronic controls in devices where such features were previously cost-prohibitive.12
Common everyday products that began utilizing microprocessors by this period include:
- Household Appliances: Programmable microwave ovens, clothes washers, dryers, and thermostats.12
- Entertainment and Media: Television sets, videocassette recorders, electronic games, and musical instruments.12
- Photography and Communication: Self-focusing cameras, telephones, and answering machines.2
- Personal and Security Items: Watches and home security systems.2
- Automotive: Automobiles featuring microprocessor-controlled ignition and fuel systems to enhance performance and fuel economy.12
Beyond consumer goods, microprocessors also became central to business and industrial infrastructure, powering automatic teller machines, point-of-sale terminals, and automated factory assembly systems.12