Inventing Modern America, from the Microwave to the Mouse

This is the companion Web site to a book published recently by MIT Press. We don't know if the book is any good, but the site is both informative and fun. While the book writes up the lives of thirty-five inventors, the site focuses on five specific geniuses and their inventions: Doug Engelbart (computer mouse), Thomas Fogarty (balloon catheter), Ashok Gadgil (UV water purification), Stephanie Kwolek (Kevlar), and Paul McCready (human-powered plane). A biography, a look at their patents, and a lively discussion of their impact on society is given for each. We especially like the interactive game that illustrates how innovations in one area lead to inventions in another—the cotton gin to the bicycle, for example. Send this link to anyone you know involved in product development.