"I think I thought it would be important for electronics as we knew it then, but that was a much simpler business and electronics was mostly radio and television and the first computers"

In this quote, Jack Kilby reflects on the early vision he had for electronic devices, juxtaposing it with the simpleness of the sector throughout the nascent phases of its development. Kilby, an essential figure in electronic devices history and the innovator of the incorporated circuit, suggests a sense of humbleness and contemplation about the development and change of the field over time.

The quote shows a time when electronics was mainly connected with radio and tv technologies, not extending far beyond those primary applications. This was an age prior to the explosive development that identified the latter part of the 20th century, which saw electronics penetrate almost every element of daily life. Kilby's mention of "the very first computers" hints at a period when computing innovation was in its infancy, bulky, and mostly inaccessible to the general public, often restricted to research study and niche industry applications.

Kilby's reflection that he "thought it would be important" suggests an acknowledgment of the potential for growth and significance even within the seemingly limited scope of electronic devices at the time. However, his use of the expression "as we knew it then" acknowledges the unexpected trajectory and expansive scope electronics would eventually achieve. Kilby's insight, although perhaps not fully incorporating the eventual scale, enables an appreciation of the impact that early developments would have in setting the foundation for contemporary technological advancements.

Additionally, Kilby's viewpoint works as a pointer of the iterative nature of technological development. Developments in electronic devices, starting from reasonably easy devices, set the phase for complex and diverse innovations. His words echo an understanding that while the thorough impact of electronic developments might not have been completely predictable, the commitment to development was fundamentally confirmed by subsequent fast developments in computing, digital interactions, and microelectronics.

In general, Kilby's quote underscores the modest beginnings of a field that attained amazing growth and transformation, acknowledging both the early foresight and the constraints of what could have been conceivably envisioned at the time.