Category Archives: Innovation

Magnetic Core Memory Patented

Posted on February 28, 2012 by GilPress

Today in 1956, Jay Forrester of MIT was awarded a patent for his magnetic core memory. It became the standard for computer memory until it was supplanted by solid state RAM in the mid-seventies. It has continued to be used, … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer history, Information storage, Innovation, Memory, This day in information | Leave a comment

Radar Invented

Posted on February 26, 2012 by GilPress

Today in 1935, Scottish physicist Robert Watson-Watt demonstrated in Daventry, England, that radio waves could be reflected by an aircraft. The experiment, prompted by fears of the development of death rays by Germany, launched a research program into what later will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Innovation, Radar, Radio, This day in information | 2 Comments

First Handheld Calculator

Posted on February 1, 2012 by GilPress

Today in 1972, the HP-35 was introduced. The world’s first handheld-sized scientific calculator, ultimately made the slide rule, which had previously been used by generations of engineers and scientists, obsolete. The HP-35 was 5.8 inches (150 mm) long and 3.2 inches … Continue reading →

Posted in Digitization, Innovation, This day in information | Leave a comment

MIT Study Proves the World is Not Flat

Posted on December 27, 2011 by GilPress

Researchers at MIT and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, modeling the diffusion of social contagion by studying the spread of Twitter from 2006 to 2009, have found that “the site’s growth in the United States relied primarily … Continue reading →

Posted in Information diffusion, Innovation, Network Effect, Social Networks, Twitter | Leave a comment

iPod at 10: A Computer in Your Pocket

Posted on October 23, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 2001, Steve Jobs introduced the iPod at a special event at Apple’s headquarters, telling the assembled reporters “This is a major, major breakthrough.” There were other music players on the market at the time but they were conceived … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Computer history, Innovation, music, Recorded sound, This day in information | Leave a comment

Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs, Creating New Industries

Posted on October 18, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 1931, Thomas Edison died. He will be remembered as the most prolific inventor in U.S. history, having registered 1,093 U.S. patents over the course of his lifetime. Harold Evans in They Made America: “Hundreds of his 1,093 patents … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Computer history, Innovation, This day in information, Yesterday's Futures | 2 Comments

Spinning Disks

Posted on September 4, 2011 by GilPress

Fifty-five years ago today, IBM introduced the disk drive. In 1953, Arthur J. Critchlow, a young member of IBM’s advanced technologies research lab in San Jose, California, was assigned the task of finding a better information storage medium than punch-cards. … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer history, IBM, information organization, Information storage, Innovation, Memory, This day in information | 4 Comments

3 Views of Innovation

Posted on August 1, 2011 by GilPress

“None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I make trial after trial until it comes. What it boils down to is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.”–Thomas Edison, 1929

Posted in Innovation, Quotes | Leave a comment

Bob Metcalfe, May 2011

Posted on May 13, 2011 by GilPress

Bob Metcalfe is Going Meta on Innovation By Gil Press Bob Metcalfe thinks we are in a bubble, an innovation bubble, seeing that the word “innovation” is on everybody’s lips.

Posted in Innovation, Interviews, Social Networks, World Wide Web | 2 Comments