Road trip 2010 stops in Niskayuna
Hello again from the Pilot Development Center! The summer season is a great season to show others the resources of GE Global Research – and because of our unique function and high-profile projects, the Pilot Development Center is very often a highlight of the tours. Visitors we’ve hosted have included technology teams from the GE businesses, executives from other businesses, and prominent figures in the technology world. I’m always excited to tell the story of how we’re bridging the gap between the research world and the marketplace to anyone.
Most recently, we had the pleasure of showing our facility to CNET.com writer Daniel Terdiman, as part of his “Road Trip 2010” series for his blog, Geek Gestalt. Daniel is touring the country’s hottest technology centers over a course of over 3000 miles over the Northeast. Recently, GE Global Research was his destination. I got to talk with him about how our experts who bring projects through the Pilot Development Center are focusing on solving the tough problems of process scale-up. One major highlight we hit was, of course, our OLED process line.
When I looked at Daniel’s posts from previous stops, I have to admit I was pretty amazed and humbled. His blog puts us in the same tier of organizations such as NASA, Raytheon, IBM Research – and even the Sam Adams Brewery! Practically all of the places he visited qualify as a techie geek’s dream. It’s nice to be reminded from the outside that I work at such a place. His blog also mixes in interesting stops that make any road trip memorable, such as the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Pittburgh Steelers training camp. It’s a very interesting and entertaining read.
Makes me want to do a road trip of my own – I would definitely want to see the Kennedy Space Center, walk through Orange County Choppers, and see the Museum of the Moving Image in Chicago again. I love the open road. To the point that my car’s a new ’06 and I’ve already got almost 120,000 miles on it. And if I got a chance to visit some high-tech firms? I would definitely want to check out Boeing, the Smith & Wesson Company, Lockheed Martin, and MIT’s Lincoln Laboratories.
I can’t help but be a little envious that Daniel’s job is to explore some of the coolest technologies in the country, whether they come from are independent innovation fairs, artists, or Fortune 500 companies. Coming back home though, it’s great to think about the technologies we’re making right here, and how we’re quite literally solving some of the world’s toughest problems.
Do check out Daniel’s blog on his visit titled “Behind the Scenes at GE Global Research.” He opens his entry in a really exciting way by saying “When you’re listening to someone explain a new scientific method and just about the only thing that goes through your head is “This is going to win a Nobel Prize,” you know you’re in good company.” Also check out the video he posted (below) of Margaret Blohm, more of the images from his trip (including the ones throughout my post), and join me in wishing him a continued safe trip!
