The Untold Legacy of New Jersey in Innovation

New Jersey's contributions to American technological innovation, historically recognized through figures like Thomas Edison and institutions like Bell Labs, are often overshadowed by Silicon Valley's prominence. While New Jersey served as a crucial center for fundamental technological advancements, many of its innovations, such as the transistor, are less recognizable to the public compared to contemporary software giants like Google and Facebook. This invisibility stems from the complex nature of the technologies developed at Bell Labs, which provided the groundwork for modern innovations but did not have the same immediate consumer recognition. As a result, there remains a challenge in adequately crediting New Jersey for its foundational role in shaping the technology landscape.