Final answer:
The personal computer's development was influenced by the do-it-yourself movement in Silicon Valley during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The microprocessor's invention led to affordable personal computers, making them accessible to a wider market, and innovations like Apple's Macintosh popularized graphical user interfaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The development of the personal computer was significantly influenced by a power-to-the-people, do-it-yourself movement in the vicinity of Silicon Valley during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
This era saw the emergence of computing giants like Apple, Commodore, and Tandy as they began to offer fully assembled personal computers. Previously, personal computing was limited to those skilled enough to assemble expensive kits.
From the Intel Corporation's journey that ignited with the establishment in 1968 and led to the Altair 8800 in 1975, to the significant reduction in size and cost brought about by the microchip, personal computing devices began to become more accessible.
An example would be the Apple II, introduced by Steve Jobs and his team, which paved the way for Apple's prominence in the computer market. Computer capabilities thus began to double roughly every eighteen months to two years, a trend outlined in Moore's Law, and personal computers became an integral part of households and businesses alike.
The microprocessors invented in 1971 by Texas Instruments and Intel enabled the creation of more affordable computers, making technology accessible to hobbyists and eventually the general public. Companies like IBM joined the market with the IBM PC, establishing a foothold in business sectors.
The microprocessor's ubiquity in the late 1980s illustrated its integration into various facets of daily life from automobiles to household appliances.
By 1982, the U.S. alone had 5.5 million personal computers and by the end of the decade, these devices became commonplace.
Apple introduced the Macintosh in 1984, which popularized the graphic user interface. The design initiated by Apple soon became the standard for computers, enhancing their user-friendly potential and accelerating their integration into everyday life.