Final answer:
Integrated circuits enabled the miniaturization and cost-effectiveness of computers, leading to the development of affordable personal computers by reducing their size and cost, and allowing companies like Apple and IBM to thrive in consumer and business markets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The qualities of the integrated circuit that made the production of affordable personal computers possible lie in its ability to enable miniaturization and cost-effectiveness. Prior to its invention, computers were large, consumed a lot of power, and were financially out of reach for most consumers. However, the development of silicon-based integrated circuits allowed numerous transistors and capacitors to be packed into a small space, which greatly reduced the size and cost of computers. Digital technology evolved quickly because of Moore's Law, which observed the doubling of electronic capabilities approximately every two years. Microprocessors, essentially entire computer processors on a single chip, came into being in the early 1970s and set the foundation for personal computers. With the groundwork laid by companies like Intel and later, visionaries like Steve Jobs who co-founded Apple, personal computers began to proliferate in homes and businesses. The transition from room-sized machines to desktop computers was a game-changer that paved the way for tech giants like Apple and IBM to grow rapidly as they catered to consumer and business markets.