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Hamming’s Reflection • On Bell Labs

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I have a rare copy of the 1952 Bell Labs directory. […] What is astounding to me about this directory is that it seems that almost everyone in it became famous. I find this incredible. Perhaps the world was a much simpler place then, where every “plink, plank” of technology resulted in a great invention. Or were our predecessors giants, whom we have no hope of matching? […] In contrast, when I look at the 1986 Bell Labs directory, the names on the pages swim before my eyes. […] But here is the question: If I were to look at this same 1986 directory in the year 2020 (another 34-year time lapse), how would I see those names? —Robert W. Lucky ↗ In the March 1987 issue of IEEE Spectrum Robert W. Lucky reflected on his time at Bell Labs. He had joined in 1961 and spent the following three decades within the labs. Recalling his years in the early 60s, “I was intimidated and awestruck by the famous people who drifted by the hallways.” Flipping through the first three pages of the 1952 directo

← Hamming’s reflection I have a rare copy of the 1952 Bell Labs directory. […] What is astounding to me about this directory is that it seems that almost everyone in it became famous. I find this incredible. Perhaps the world was a much simpler place then, where every “plink, plank” of technology resulted in a great invention. Or were our predecessors giants, whom we have no hope of matching? […] In contrast, when I look at the 1986 Bell Labs directory, the names on the pages swim before my eyes. […] But here is the question: If I were to look at this same 1986 directory in the year 2020 (anot

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