Good book - history and technology

[BuckyThreadkiller]

If you haven't read The Idea Factory by Jon Gerter, give it a look.

He traces the fairly short but incredible life of Bell Labs and how the combination of a budget fueled by a monopoly, one of the most complex systems mankind had ever devised, the most brilliant minds in the country and problems that just had to be solved, lead to the technology that has given us the 21st century.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/books/the-idea-factory-by-jon-gertner.html?pagewanted=all

[Entropy]

I'll have to keep my eye out for that. I've always been fascinated by the history of scientific endeavor and discovery.

[NB2K]

Just remember, nothing happens until somebody sells something.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Just remember, nothing happens until somebody sells something.

One of the more interesting points in the book is that some of the innovations Bell created - the transistor, the laser, binary computing, Unix, cell phone service... all came about because they could throw zillions at the basic research without having to justify the expense through a product that would sell.

They invented solar cells, but couldn't find a means to produce them that made them cost effective. SO all that got shelved. Then decades later with they invented the communications satellite and had to have a means to generate electrical power in space they pulled it out and dusted it off.

It makes an interesting case for great leaps in research due to the security of the monopoly. And then shows the downside of that situation in the glacial pace of bringing those things to market compared to the situation when competition heats up.

[mrvette]

If you haven't read The Idea Factory by Jon Gerter, give it a look.

He traces the fairly short but incredible life of Bell Labs and how the combination of a budget fueled by a monopoly, one of the most complex systems mankind had ever devised, the most brilliant minds in the country and problems that just had to be solved, lead to the technology that has given us the 21st century.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/books/the-idea-factory-by-jon-gertner.html?pagewanted=all

YUP, had two relatives that worked for ATT, one was a WW2 Major, following Patton, in the civil engineering reconstruction behind the fighting, he never did talk about what he seen, but he came home with a heart condition on nitroglycerine tabs for decades....
the other fellow was a Navy Commander...dunno much there...yet another was the ex's father...engineer in the Burma campaign...'

Bell Labs basically invented the computer....

anyone here know what a #1 crossbar was?? without Google???

how did ATT power the phone system when lights went out....

what was your talk voltage?

what was the ring voltage, and what frequency???

that shit goes back SO far, I not sure I can remember the answers myself....and that SUX....:rofl:

[73sbVert]

One of the more interesting points in the book is that some of the innovations Bell created - the transistor, the laser, binary computing, Unix, cell phone service... all came about because they could throw zillions at the basic research without having to justify the expense through a product that would sell.

They invented solar cells, but couldn't find a means to produce them that made them cost effective. SO all that got shelved. Then decades later with they invented the communications satellite and had to have a means to generate electrical power in space they pulled it out and dusted it off.

It makes an interesting case for great leaps in research due to the security of the monopoly. And then shows the downside of that situation in the glacial pace of bringing those things to market compared to the situation when competition heats up.

That was one of the points my Tech Writing professor drilled into us as an undergrad:
What is the difference between a scientist and an engineer?

A scientist just wants an answer to the question. An engineer has a product in mind.


Good find Jim, I'll look for it! :seasix:


Here's another book you might like then, been a standard on my shelf for a few years now:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YB574GQEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Amazon.com: The Engineer in America: A Historical Anthology from Technology and Culture (9780226710327): Terry S. Reynolds: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YB574GQEL.@@AMEPARAM@@51YB574GQEL

[pappytinker]

YUP, had two relatives that worked for ATT, one was a WW2 Major, following Patton, in the civil engineering reconstruction behind the fighting, he never did talk about what he seen, but he came home with a heart condition on nitroglycerine tabs for decades....
the other fellow was a Navy Commander...dunno much there...yet another was the ex's father...engineer in the Burma campaign...'

Bell Labs basically invented the computer....

anyone here know what a #1 crossbar was?? without Google???

how did ATT power the phone system when lights went out....

what was your talk voltage?

what was the ring voltage, and what frequency???

that shit goes back SO far, I not sure I can remember the answers myself....and that SUX....:rofl:

The whole thing was a #1 XBT (cross-bar tandem)
I was on the team that installed and tested the 4A ETS in Worcester, MA
the phone systems were powered by battery strings in the central office. I was the supervisor over a CO battery plant for about 7 years. In addition to the battery strings, we had a diesel generator and a Solar (brand) turbine generator.

what comes out of memory is -24V
60 IPM for ringing and 120 IPM for busy signal
2600 CPS (Hz)