wallst_wizz
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Collected from Bijili.com
85 Innovations that changed the way we live:
Couple of note worthy stories (published at Forbes):
1949
Magnetic Core Memory
While working at Harvard Computation Laboratory, Shanghai-born physicist An Wang (1920-1990) created the "pulse transfer controlling device," the first method of storing information on a computer without large magnetic drums. His real breakthrough came by using electricity to manipulate the polarity of thousands of tiny donut-shaped magnets made of ferrite. Modified by MIT scientist Jay Forrester, magnetic core memory became the basis for all high-speed computer memory, lasting until microchips displaced it. Wang sold his patent to IBM for $400,000 to concentrate on Wang Laboratories, which became the first to manufacture desktop digital calculators and minicomputers. Wang was a sizzling growth company but collapsed after Wang's death.
1956
Fiber Optics
Growing up in India, Narinder Kapany's teacher told him light only travels in a straight line. He took it as a personal challenge. In 1956, shortly after writing a paper on the subject, Kapany coined the term "fiber optics" to describe his bundle of flexible glass rods coated with a reflective material that could transmit an image from one end to the other with no distortion and minimal loss of light. Later, lasers were added to these "optical wave-guides," allowing digital information to be sent over fiber faster than copper wires, but it would take decades for high-speed fiber communications to take hold.
85 Innovations that changed the way we live:
Couple of note worthy stories (published at Forbes):
1949
Magnetic Core Memory
While working at Harvard Computation Laboratory, Shanghai-born physicist An Wang (1920-1990) created the "pulse transfer controlling device," the first method of storing information on a computer without large magnetic drums. His real breakthrough came by using electricity to manipulate the polarity of thousands of tiny donut-shaped magnets made of ferrite. Modified by MIT scientist Jay Forrester, magnetic core memory became the basis for all high-speed computer memory, lasting until microchips displaced it. Wang sold his patent to IBM for $400,000 to concentrate on Wang Laboratories, which became the first to manufacture desktop digital calculators and minicomputers. Wang was a sizzling growth company but collapsed after Wang's death.
1956
Fiber Optics
Growing up in India, Narinder Kapany's teacher told him light only travels in a straight line. He took it as a personal challenge. In 1956, shortly after writing a paper on the subject, Kapany coined the term "fiber optics" to describe his bundle of flexible glass rods coated with a reflective material that could transmit an image from one end to the other with no distortion and minimal loss of light. Later, lasers were added to these "optical wave-guides," allowing digital information to be sent over fiber faster than copper wires, but it would take decades for high-speed fiber communications to take hold.
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