from the 1950s space-race to microchips, the Internet, and GPS

short commentary today giving credit to scientists and engineers in the 1950s space race and high-energy physics experiments for pushing the envelope by leading the demand for faster computers (microchips and parallel computing), faster and more reliable networks (Internet), better communication protocols (HTTP/WWW), weather forecasts, satellite location and mapping (GPS), and many other innovations we take for granted.

One Giant Leap

By PETER D. ZIMMERMAN

October 1, 2007; Page A23; Wall Street Journal