Educational Media Reviews Online

This dynamic two-video set, hosted by Walter Cronkite, describes the origins, innovations, and essence of Silicon Valley. Once the prune capital of the U.S., the Valley has come to represent the spirit of the American dream. With the founding of Stanford University in 1891, the Santa Clara Valley swiftly became a technological, intellectual, and cultural incubator. As the steady stream of scientists and engineers emerged from Stanford, the basis for America's electronics industry was formed, and it, in turn, transformed American industry and society.

Fred Terman, the founder of Silicon Valley, discusses the synergy that made innovation product number One. Other pioneers, visionaries, and inventors adding to the discussion are Hewlett, Packard, Johnson, Warnock, Jobs, Markkula, Rock, Noyce, and Nobel Laureates Paul Berg and Linus Pauling among others. Products developed include the disk drive, semiconductor, microprocessor, video games, Netscape, etc. They speculate on how the creative counterculture, absence of restrictive business practices, and intellectual energy present have allowed innovators and entrepreneurs to take risks and succeed in the high-tech arena. Financing these up-start companies with and without venture capital is also discussed.

The first video covers the years, 1890's-1970's, and the second, 1970's-1990's. The historical photographs broaden the interest to history and photography buffs as well as business and technology students, researchers, and faculty. Technical qualities are outstanding. This well-made, precisely-edited set is recommended for academic and large public library collections.