THE IDEA FACTORY:

Bell Labs and the Great A ge of

American Innovation

By Jon Gertner, Penguin Press, 2012 / jongertner@gmail.com

Mer vin
Kelly.
The 101-D.
Kelly & Davisson.
 T h e Tr a n s i sto r Sto r y
Kelly, Davisson, Shockley.
Murray Hill, NJ (circa 1948)
The first transistor.
 T h e S o la r Sto r y
Pearson, Chapin, Fuller.
 First solar
installation :

Americus,
Georgia
 What can we learn? #1

It was a problem-rich
environment. A r n o Pe n z i a s
 What can we learn? #2

Were just not very good at

perceiving the future value of
todays breakthroughs. . .
New York Times, July 1, 1948
(page 46)
 Its a
miracle!
(The Bell Solar
B a t te r y. )
 What can we learn? #3

Even when we *think* we

understand the value of a
breakthrough . . . we
probably dont.
 What can we learn? #4
The integration of todays science and
engineering will enable a product
and/or process that is unforeseeable.
 What can we learn? #5

The future will look different than you

think . . . .