I've always been in awe of Bell Laboratories' (now part of Lucent Technologies) track record in research and development. So many of the innovations we now take for granted came out of Bell Labs: Hi-Fi recording, Motion Picture Sound, Radio Astronomy, Stereo, Unix, and, of course, the transistor. It's hard to think of another laboratory that's had that kind of impact. Microsoft Research (MSR) is a mere pup compared to the 78-year-old Bell Labs, but Microsoft is pouring millions of dollars into MSR in an effort to position it as an innovation leader for the new millennium. Is the company succeeding? I went to one of the group's fairs (which are held all over the US) in Washington DC to find out.
|