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The Origins of Silicon Valley: Early Technology and EPS
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The Origins of Silicon Valley: Early Technology and EPS
Silicon Valley is commonly acknowledged as the tech capital of the world. When most people think of the Valley, they probably recall semiconductors, personal computers, software, biotech and self-driving cars. How did Silicon Valley come into being, and what can we learn? The story goes back to local Hams (amateur radio operators) trying to break RCA's tube patents, Stanford "angel" investors, the sinking of the Titanic, WW II and radar, and the SF Bay Area infrastructure that developed -- these factors pretty much determined that the semiconductor and IC industries would be located in the Santa Clara Valley, and that the Valley would remain the world’s innovation center as new technologies emerged and a model for innovation worldwide.
This talk will give an exciting and colorful history of device technology development and innovation that began in Palo Alto in 1909. You'll meet some of the colorful characters -- Cyril Elwell, Lee De Forest, Bill Eitel, Charles Litton, Fred Terman, David Packard, Bill Hewlett, Bill Shockley and others -- who came to define our worldwide electronics industries through their inventions and process development. You'll understand some of the novel management approaches that have become the hallmarks of its tech startups. Many of these attributes can be found, to greater or lesser extent, in other technology hubs; however, the SF Bay Area has five generations of experience, as well as a "critical mass" of talent, making it difficult for others to catch up.
Mr. Wesling will explain how Charles "Bud" Eldon started an early chapter of what became EPS when Bill (Hewlett) asked him to, when Bill was president of the IRE (an IEEE predecessor).
Silicon Valley is commonly acknowledged as the tech capital of the world. How did Silicon Valley come into being, and what can we learn? And how did the Electronics Packaging Society start, back in 1955? We have the answers!