Final answer:
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were co-founders of Apple, a company that significantly impacted the personal computer market alongside companies like IBM and Microsoft. Important technological advancements like the microchip and microprocessor from Intel aided in computer miniaturization and cost reduction. The computer industry expanded rapidly, following trends such as Moore's Law.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were both members of Apple. Apple was co-founded by Steve Jobs and quickly made a mark in the personal computing industry. The introduction of computers like the Apple II solidified Apple's position in the market during a time when technology was rapidly advancing due to innovations like the microchip and the microprocessor.
The microprocessor, a critical component for the modern computer that contains a CPU on a single chip, was independently developed around the same time by Texas Instruments and Intel in 1971. This advancement allowed for the reduction in size and cost of computers, enabling companies like Apple and competitors such as IBM, with their IBM personal computer (IBM PC), to reach a broader market including consumers and businesses.