Final answer:
ICs with shorter pins designed to be soldered on top of a PC board are called Surface Mount Technology (SMT) packages, which allow for greater miniaturization of electronic devices.
Step-by-step explanation:
ICs that are much smaller and have shorter pins bent to be soldered directly to the traces on the top of a PC board are commonly called SMT packages. SMT stands for Surface Mount Technology, which distinguishes this modern type of packaging from older, larger packages such as DIP (Dual Inline Package) where the pins extend through holes in the board.
An integrated circuit, or microchip, is an electronic circuit of transistors etched onto a small piece of silicon, enabling complex functionality in a very compact form.
The advent of SMT has allowed for further miniaturization of electronic devices, enabling powerful computing capability to fit into the palm of your hand.
By using SMT packages, electronics manufacturers can produce more advanced and more compact devices without the need for complicated wiring that took up space.