Long but fascinating presentation made by Steve Blank at Google Tech Talks in December, 2007. I was a history major as an undergraduate and wanted to be a professor of history. This presentation reminds me why - history can be presented in methodical and detailed fashion but it need not be boring if the person presenting it has a lively sense of the human drama associated with any given era, as Mr. Blank very evidently does.<p>His particular topic here: the military history of Silicon Valley, by which he opens up a hugely important era in the Valley's history that we scarcely consider today, to wit, the technology developed in and around WWII.<p>Well worth listening to, even in snippet for those who lack the time to sit through the whole 56 minutes.
I've seen this presentation irl (not at Google).<p>The most fascinating part for me is the progress of radar equipment in just few war years. It's unfortunate that necessity is the hardest driver of innovation, one can only dream what would be achieved if this level of innovation would be sustainable.