Edison Pioneered American Innovation
Channel: IntelFreePress
Date: 21/03/2013

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Today's systematic approach to technology research and development, according to historian Ernest Freeberg, can be traced to Thomas Edison, the fabled 19th century inventor of the light bulb. Freeberg points out that more than the light bulb, Edison's contribution was the first commercially practical incandescent light, which he patented in 1879. 

In his new book, "The Age of Edison: Electric Light and the Invention of Modern America," Freeberg explores how the advent of ubiquitous light, driven forward in part by Edison's innovative and entrepreneurial skills, gave rise to unforeseen industries and uses, many of which continue to proliferate today.

Freeberg recently appeared at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., to discuss his book and how Edison's approach to illumination prevailed over rival systems such as Charles Brush's arc lighting. After leaving the stage, Freeberg sat down to discuss the legacy of Edison's R&D approach, its visible impact on the tech industry today, the challenges of controlling IP and the myth of the lone inventor.

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