alt.hn

4/12/2026 at 9:16:45 PM

Inventors Who Didn't Invent What They Are Famous for Inventing

 https://www.wsj.com/tech/us-famous-inventions-inventors-wrong-3d5b0a0f

by fortran77

4/12/2026 at 10:43:48 PM

There is also a difference between invention and innovation (including successful commercialization.)

Apple didn't invent GUI-based computers, MP3 players, smartphones, tablet PCs, smartwatches, wireless earphones, or ARM-based laptops. But the Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple watch, AirPods, and M1 MacBook Air were all category-defining products.

by musicale

4/13/2026 at 3:09:37 AM

Alas, Xerox Parc

by readthenotes1

4/12/2026 at 10:14:16 PM

At a fundamental level, our society works by giving the corporate spokesperson credit for everything thought up or done in their organization. Really, credit for a whole lotta other claims too. CEOs and spokespeople are more brand avatars with megaphones, than actual people dealing in fact. Unfortunately this setup confuses hero worshippers.

by PaulShomo

4/13/2026 at 3:01:04 AM

I think it’s partly because they are psychopaths (once had a manager that got promoted on my hard work while holding me down) and partly deserving of a little credit for not killing every alternate idea that ran contrary to their own.

Yeah, I don’t like either…

by BobbyTables2

4/13/2026 at 3:17:06 AM

[flagged]

by Rekindle8090

4/13/2026 at 6:29:41 AM

no mention of thomas edison not inventing the lightbulb?

by vrighter

4/12/2026 at 10:15:16 PM

Personally I think Gauss gets a little more credit than he strictly deserves.

by themafia

4/13/2026 at 12:11:10 AM

Elon Musk

by blurbleblurble

4/12/2026 at 10:34:05 PM

[dead]

by theturtle