The greatest company of all time?

mrpayroll · 12-01-06, 03:39 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061130/...nt_bell_labs_3

Quote:

Bell Labs' history of inventions

By LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Business Writer
Thu Nov 30, 4:42 PM ET

TRENTON, N.J. - It's the birthplace of the transistor, the laser, the solar cell and the fax machine. Its researchers were the first to hear the echoes of the Big Bang. And now this American legend is part of a French company.

Bell Labs was founded in 1925 as the research arm of AT&T's national telephone business. Sixty years later, it was spun off as part of Lucent Technologies Inc., which on Thursday was acquired by Paris-based Alcatel SA.

Murray Hill-based Bell Labs employs about 9,000 researchers and engineers in seven countries, down from a peak of 24,000 in 1998 before Lucent drastically downsized.

Its scientists have collectively have won six Nobel Prizes in Physics, nine U.S. Medals of Science, seven U.S. Medals of Technology, two Draper Prizes and a Grammy award, for many achievements in sound technology.

The lab has been granted 32,031 U.S. patents, 15,000 of which are still active.

A look at some key advances:

_1925: First demonstration of a facsimile machine sending pictures over telephone wires.

_1926: First synchronization system for sound movies.

_1927: First long-distance television transmission, sending live images of President Hoover from Washington, D.C., to New York.

_1937: First electronic speech synthesizer (re-created human speech).

_1939: First binary digital computer.

_1947: John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley invent the transistor, leading to the electronic-age of portable radios, touchtone phones, computer microchips and color and high-definition television; they share 1956 Nobel Prize.

_1951: Direct dialing of domestic long-distance calls.

_1954: Solar battery cell to convert sunlight into electricity.

_1956: First transatlantic telephone cable, handling up to 36 calls.

_1958: Arthur Schawlow and brother-in-law Charles Townes invent the laser (short for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation), now used in fiber-optic communications networks and as a cutting tool in surgery and industry. Each later won a Nobel related to the research.

_1962: Demonstrated cellular technology, tested the first paging system, produced the first orbiting communications satellite (Telstar I) and invented light-emitting diodes, now widely used in imaging systems.

_1965: Arno Penzias and Bob Wilson stumble upon cosmetic background radiation while using a highly sensitive "horn antenna" in radio astronomy experiments; they win 1978 Nobel Prize. The static noise they heard was the strongest evidence supporting the Edwin Hubble/George Lemaitre theory the universe was created in a "Big Bang" explosion.

_1969: UNIX operating system, software that made open computer systems possible and became the Internet's foundation.

_1979: Digital signal processor, enabling cellular phones and modems.

_1980: Digital cell phone technology.

_1988: First fiber-optic transatlantic cable, handling up to 40,000 phone calls at once.

_1992: Invented compression technology needed for digital radio.

_1995: First prototype system supporting wireless Internet.

_1998: First switch allowing Internet telephone traffic, faster Internet access.

_2005: First Internet Protocol transmission at 100 gigabits per second, 10 times the current speed and critical for future services such as IPTV.

___

Source: Lucent Technologies Inc.

___

On the Net:

http://www.bell-labs.com

I bolded what I think are ground breaking inventions that came out of this company. Has any other company in the world come close to these types of discoveries that have changed the world?

Chris

al_bundy · 12-01-06, 03:46 PM

Craig Venter's new company is doing some good work. The last one he started also did a few good things.

IDrinkMolson · 12-01-06, 04:03 PM

I would think DuPont would be a contender.

Pistol Pete · 12-01-06, 04:05 PM

Unfortunately Lucent (Bell Labs) is a pale shadow of its former self. RIP.

shaun3000 · 12-01-06, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDrinkMolson

I would think DuPont would be a contender.

That or 3M.

The Bus · 12-01-06, 04:18 PM

That Yahoo article was a nice summary of the PR piece sent out. Bravo, new journalists.

mrpayroll · 12-01-06, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaun3000

That or 3M.

I would be interested in seeing what they are responsible for.

Sure IBM has the most patents of any company that has existed, but are they not based mostly on the computer industry, which exists because of Bell Labs?

Chris

mrpayroll · 12-01-06, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bus

That Yahoo article was a nice summary of the PR piece sent out. Bravo, new journalists.

As long as it is all true, does it matter?

Chris

The Bus · 12-01-06, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpayroll

I would be interested in seeing what they are responsible for.

Sticky notes.

Sticky notes used today: 2
Lycra jumpsuits worn today: 6
Lasers used today: 3

~~DuPont~~ Lucent wins!

The Bus · 12-01-06, 04:27 PM

3M Wins!

mrpayroll · 12-01-06, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bus

3M Wins!

Tell me about it. My mom has stock in Lucentl and it's all in the dumps since 2000.

Chris

The Bus · 12-01-06, 04:35 PM

3M:

(Bush League)

Lucent: N/A

DuPont:

Winner: DuPont

ChiTownAbs, Inc · 12-01-06, 04:39 PM

No love for Disney?

mrpayroll · 12-01-06, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTownAbs, Inc

No love for Disney?

I hate Disney....

oh wait a minute,

I work for Disney!

Chris

The Edit King · 12-01-06, 05:38 PM

Kudama · 12-01-06, 07:35 PM

All these companies pale before the glorious radiance that is NETFLIX!!!

Kittydreamer · 12-01-06, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kudama

All these companies pale before the glorious radiance that is NETFLIX!!!

Thanks, I'll let my boss know.

mrpayroll · 12-01-06, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Edit King

I'll take Chrissy....

you can have Janet

Chris

mikehunt · 12-01-06, 07:41 PM

faxes are that old?
holy crap

gui and mouse are xerox inventions, that they stupidly sold off thinking they were worthless

crazyronin · 12-01-06, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bus

3M Wins!

Go Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing!

lordwow · 12-01-06, 11:48 PM

It's still way too early to say, but Google is off to a good start.

edstein · 12-02-06, 01:10 AM

Greatest invention of all time.

Brown 25 from Urans Corp.

Tracer Bullet · 12-02-06, 09:50 AM

Come on Bus... I know why you're really pushing DuPont.

wendersfan · 12-02-06, 10:12 AM

Greatest company of all time?:

I can't imagine how different my life would be had Leo Fender not been born.

The Edit King · 12-02-06, 03:51 PM

If I had to seriously choose one, I'd choose COSTCO, hands down.

(...but thumbs up!

)

They have the GREATEST Customer Service...

The GREATEST Return Policies...

GREAT Products...

...not to mention, the NICEST FOLKS this side of the Pacos!

They are simply the #1 GREATEST company IN THE WORLD to me.

Costco =

&

-Paul

12-01-06, 04:03 PM	#3
IDrinkMolson DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: DE Posts: 2,784	I would think DuPont would be a contender. __________________ My DVD Collection

12-01-06, 04:05 PM	#4
Pistol Pete DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 3,185	Unfortunately Lucent (Bell Labs) is a pale shadow of its former self. RIP. __________________ there's no prize for out-crazying Guarddog.

12-01-06, 04:18 PM	#6
The Bus DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New York Posts: 51,624	That Yahoo article was a nice summary of the PR piece sent out. Bravo, new journalists. __________________ Movies: 2002 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 2013 "Too much disclaiming in this post." – Dr. Mabuse

12-01-06, 04:27 PM	#10
The Bus DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New York Posts: 51,624	3M Wins! __________________ Movies: 2002 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 2013 "Too much disclaiming in this post." – Dr. Mabuse

12-01-06, 04:35 PM	#12
The Bus DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New York Posts: 51,624	NASCAR Sponsorships 3M: (Bush League) Lucent: N/A DuPont: Winner: DuPont __________________ Movies: 2002 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 2013 "Too much disclaiming in this post." – Dr. Mabuse

12-01-06, 03:46 PM	#2
al_bundy DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: in da cloud Posts: 26,196	Craig Venter's new company is doing some good work. The last one he started also did a few good things.

12-01-06, 04:39 PM	#13
ChiTownAbs, Inc DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 1999 Posts: 17,196	No love for Disney?

12-01-06, 05:38 PM	#15
The Edit King DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: I'm Still Alive in Los Angeles Posts: 27,625

12-01-06, 07:35 PM	#16
Kudama Banned Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: The Illustrious State of Fugue Posts: 6,257	All these companies pale before the glorious radiance that is NETFLIX!!!

12-01-06, 07:41 PM	#19
mikehunt DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bartertown due to it having a better economy than where I really live, Buffalo NY Posts: 29,152	faxes are that old? holy crap gui and mouse are xerox inventions, that they stupidly sold off thinking they were worthless __________________ USS Ben Sisko's Mother F***ing Pimp Hand - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT2Xpfm7Iq8&feature=plcp Vote for freedom not political parties. .... MOΛΩN ΛABE If they had a philosophy. If they weren't too busy gnawing on your insides.

12-01-06, 11:48 PM	#21
lordwow DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 9,415	It's still way too early to say, but Google is off to a good start. __________________ Her clam does taste like honey though. Now honey I LOVE. That alone makes her awesome in my book. - Slayer2005 Xbox Live:Wowous\|Twitter\|Join The 360Voice DVDTalk Group

12-02-06, 01:10 AM	#22
edstein DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 8,126	Greatest invention of all time. Brown 25 from Urans Corp.

12-02-06, 09:50 AM	#23
Tracer Bullet DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: IND Crosstown Posts: 23,363	Come on Bus... I know why you're really pushing DuPont. __________________ Third World countries are worthy of our derision. -Sean O'Hara Personally, I would say that Tracer Bullet is leading you in the wrong direction. -Supermallet Sometimes you have to decide between the guy who won't give you a cupcake and the one who will stab you in the face. -DeputyDave

12-02-06, 10:12 AM	#24
wendersfan Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Where homophobes don't get slut sauce Posts: 28,262	Greatest company of all time?: I can't imagine how different my life would be had Leo Fender not been born. __________________ "Fifth Element may be as dumb and artless as Johnny Mnemonic, but since a frenchman made it it must be ART!" -Pants "...I think it's a low blow to draw attention to wendersfan's drunken state. " - dork "Just because their victims are still alive doesn't mean they didn't commit murder." - grundle "You concentrate on the sad wanna be hooliganism and let us worry about the actual soccer." - rocketsauce (final score: Columbus 2-Chicago 1)

12-02-06, 03:51 PM	#25
The Edit King DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: I'm Still Alive in Los Angeles Posts: 27,625	If I had to seriously choose one, I'd choose COSTCO, hands down. (...but thumbs up! ) They have the GREATEST Customer Service... The GREATEST Return Policies... GREAT Products... ...not to mention, the NICEST FOLKS this side of the Pacos! They are simply the #1 GREATEST company IN THE WORLD to me. Costco = & -Paul Last edited by The Edit King; 12-02-06 at 03:58 PM.