Final answer:
Microchips are compact silicon chips with extensive electronic circuitry that revolutionized computing by reducing size, cost, and power consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term microchip refers to a tiny piece of silicon that contains a large amount of electronic circuitry. This innovation marked a turning point in computing, dramatically shrinking the size and cost of machines and making personal computers widely accessible.
The integrated circuit technology within a microchip combines multiple transistors into a single, compact unit. A great example of this advancement is the Pentium chip, which could execute an astounding number of instructions per second, showcasing the efficiency and power of these small chips.
Before the invention of the microchip, computers were large machines that filled entire rooms. But with the creation of integrated circuits on microchips, entire computing process could be condensed onto something small enough to fit into personal devices.