Once mostly relegated to government-sponsored projects, product development is now the work of virtual teams of partnering companies with a clear area of specialization. That was not the case in the early days of the industry. Back then, it seems, research was rampant, riveting and a real rush-not the dedicated, deliberate drudgery of focused developments it seems to have become. In large part, the basic business model for research groups today, whether in industry or even at universities, has dedicated development dollars attached to the search for the next widget. And so it should be.
Companies can ill-afford to do research for research's sake.
They must innovate for a purpose, or be outdeveloped by their competitors. Yet EEs can be excused for feeling the tug of nostalgia as they consider the twists and turns of the research breakthroughs spawned at the companies and one university profiled here. As we march into the 21st century, it's useful to pause and reflect on the organizations that made a difference in the 20th. As with any list, this one is not complete. Many more could have been chosen besides the pioneers we highlight here.