The definitive history of America’s greatest incubator of innovation and the birthplace of some of the 20th century’s most influential technologies “Filled with colorful characters and inspiring lessons . . . The Idea Factory explores one of the most critical issues of our time: What causes innovation?” —Walter Isaacson, The New York Times Book Review “Compelling . . . Gertner's book offers fascinating evidence for those seeking to understand how a society should best invest its research resources.” —The Wall Street Journal From its beginnings in the 1920s until its demise in the 1980s, Bell Labs-officially, the research and development wing of AT&T-was the biggest, and arguably the best, laboratory for new ideas in the world. From the transistor to the laser, from digital communications to cellular telephony, it's hard to find an aspect of modern life that hasn't been touched by Bell Labs. In The Idea Factory, Jon Gertner traces the origins of some of the twentieth century's most important inventions and delivers a riveting and heretofore untold chapter of American history. At its heart this is a story about the life and work of a small group of brilliant and eccentric men-Mervin Kelly, Bill Shockley, Claude Shannon, John Pierce, and Bill Baker-who spent their careers at Bell Labs. Today, when the drive to invent has become a mantra, Bell Labs offers us a way to enrich our understanding of the challenges and solutions to technological innovation. Here, after all, was where the foundational ideas on the management of innovation were born.

Bell Laboratories is one of the world's leading research centres. Bell scientists have won seven Nobel prizes in, physics, more than any other single institution in the world. In this engrossing book - a blend of popular science, and history -Jeremy Bernstein guides us on a fascinating tour of the labs, introducing us to the men and women who have been responsible for some of the greatest scientific advances of this century, in computers and computation, solid state physics (including the invention and development of the transistor); communications, and in astrophysics.

As the telecommunication and information field expands and becomes more varied, so do publications about these technologies and industries. This book is a first attempt to provide a general guide to that wealth of English-language publications -- both books and periodicals -- on all aspects of telecommunication. It is a comprehensive, evaluative sourcebook for telecommunications research in the United States that brings together a topically-arranged, cross-referenced, and indexed volume in one place. The information provided is only available by consulting a succession of different directories, guides, bibliographies, yearbooks, and other resources. On the one hand, it is a directory that describes in detail the major entities that comprise the American telecommunication research infrastructure including federal and state government offices and agencies, and private, public, and corporate research institutions. On the other hand, it is a bibliography that identifies and assesses the most important and useful reference and critical resources about U.S. telecommunication history, technology, industry and economics, social applications and impacts, plus policy, law and regulations, and role in the global telecommunication marketplace. No existing guide covers all of these aspects in the depth and detail of this volume.

This is the first edition of a unique new plastics industry resource: Who's Who in Plastics & Polymers. It is the only biographical directory of its kind and includes contact, affiliation and background information on more than 3300 individuals who are active leaders in this industry and related organizations. The biographical directory is in alphabetical order by individual name. After each individual name, current affiliation and contact information is provided. This includes job title, full name of affiliation (e.g., business, university, association, research institute), business address, and electronic contacts-telephone, fax, e-mail and Web site. Home addresses and contacts are also provided for most of the entries. In the biographical summary section for each individual, the following information is provided: date and place of birth, education and educational achievements, work experience including company or other organization names, positions held and time periods. Also included in this section are the number of patents awarded, articles, and book chapters authored, and conference sessions chaired. Other information includes titles of books edited or written by the individual, listing of conferences where the person had a leadership position, and listing of memberships and positions held in professional organizations. Finally, professional and civic awards are listed. Indexes provide listings of individuals by company or other organization name, and also by geographical location. Who's Who in Plastics & Polymers is now published in a limited edition of 1,000 copies. This edition will not be reprinted. To be sure of receiving your copy, please act now. Information on ordering follows sample pages on the reverse.