From creation myth to the reality of innovation today. On the surface, Malcolm Gladwell’s latest article for The New Yorker, “Creation Myth: Xerox PARC, Apple, and the truth about innovation“, is a story about the mouse and how inventions travel – and evolve – across time and place. But examined more deeply, the article is really about the factors that determine whether you end up with an invention or an innovation. Simply put: “invention” is the manifestation of an idea or creation of something new. It doesn’t become an “innovation” until it’s applied successfully in practice – i.e., it reaches the market and impacts people’s lives.
The story of PARC – and for that matter, any other innovative company – is indeed a mix of hopeful inventions, world-changing innovations, and missed opportunities, as Gladwell observes. We agree with many of the key points illustrated by the anecdotes and quotes in his article. On the challenges of invention and innovation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. A note on the popular story of the mouse The missing piece: Open innovation. Tribute To Silicon Valley's Top Pioneer - Doug Engelbart - 85th Birthday. Posted by Tom Foremski - February 1, 2010 I'm a huge fan of Doug Engelbart. When I first met him in 2005 I was astounded that this original thinker was still around -- but shocked that he was unable to secure funding for his work. Here is a series of articles I wrote about Mr Engelbart. What if Buckminster Fuller were still alive and looking for funding? Exclusive interview with seminal 1960s computer visionary Doug Engelbart -- he's still here and looking for funding A tribute to one of Silicon Valley's most influential and forgotten researchers at Xerox Parc event The San Jose Mercury wrote about a tribute to Mr Engelbart at the Computer History Museum on Saturday: Honoring a creative force in high tech: Douglas Engelbart turns 85 - San Jose Mercury News People still talk about the 1968 lecture that Mr Engelbart gave.
Logitech has done the decent thing and provides Mr Engelbart with an office but he is still looking for funding for his ideas. Silicon Valley's Computer History Museum Launches Online "Revolution" Posted by Tom Foremski - March 30, 2011 The Computer History Museum this morning launched "Revolution" an online exhibit featuring images, video, and stories chronicling the development of key computer technologies. More than 4500 pages are avialable online on a diverse number of topics, from punched cards to the first computer games, such as the "Naughts-and-Crosses machine" (above).
The curators of the museum said that more content will be added and that people involved in key events will be able to add their stories to the archive. The above picture is from the museum's physical and online collection and shows the prototype of the Apple 1 microcomputer. The online exhibit is impressive and well designed, drawing inspiration from other online museum presentations such as those from The Metropolitan and The Getty museum. About 150,000 people visit the Computer History Museum every year. The Homebrew Computer Club - CHM Revolution Other topics can be seen here: Topics - CHM Revolution. How The "Traitorous Eight" Created Silicon Valley... Posted by Tom Foremski - May 11, 2011 Hewlett-Packard lovingly maintains the garage of a modest family home on a leafy street in Palo Alto, because it's the birthplace of itself, but is it also where Silicon Valley was born?
Hewlett-Packard's founders worked in the 12 by 18 foot garage in 1938, before moving out to an office building in 1940. It was a good while before what we call Silicon Valley came into being. The spark wasn't Hewlett-Packard but rather Fairchild Semiconductor, which was formed when eight top executives left Shockley Semiconductor in 1957. Therese Poletti, columnist for MarketWatch, looks back at this seminal event: It's an interesting read. If it wasn't for Mr Shockley's terrible management skills, the history of Silicon Valley might be a lot different today. How 8 Fairchild alums sparked Silicon Valley Therese Poletti's Tech Tales. "Silicon Valley" Turns 40 - Do We Need it? Posted by Tom Foremski - January 11, 2011 David Laws writes at the Examiner: January 11, 2011 marks the 40th anniversary of the first appearance of the name Silicon Valley in print.Under the headline SILICON VALLEY USA, journalist Don C.
Hoefler wrote the first of a three-part series on the history of the semiconductor industry in the Bay Area. His behind the "scenes report of the men, money, and litigation which spawned" the industry appeared on page one of the industry tabloid Electronic News on Monday January 11, 1971. He points out that there is anecdotal evidence of the use of the name "Silicon Valley" prior to this date but that, "Author Michael S. Silicon Valley is an idea that has certainly stayed with us for a long time. Over the years the area has changed. But do we still need Silicon Valley? For example, Tristan Louis argues that New York could displace SIlicon Valley: He makes a good point about the new culture of sharing information: Culture cannot be exported.