The Intel 4004 — the world’s first microprocessor

From left, Federico Faggin, Ted Hoff, and Stanley Mazor holding Intel 4004 processors at the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1996. PHOTO: PAUL SAKUMA/AP

Released in 1971, the Intel 4004 is arguably the first ever microprocessor. Until this time, chips were hard-wired to perform specific functionality. The 4004 was the first integrated circuit that could be programmed for a variety of tasks.

In 1968, the Japanese company Busicom approached Intel, asking them to design a set of 4 chips for an electronic calculator they were…