Talks to Watch

Birth of The Transistor: A video history of Japan's electronic industry. (Part 1)

1.2M views · Nov 15, 2013 · 40:43 · 3 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2018–2022

First part of a four-part video history of Japan's electronics industry, covering the birth of the transistor and the rise of Japanese semiconductors. It appears to draw on NHK documentary material.

Why Hacker News points people here: Recommended in documentary and semiconductor-history threads as a detailed look at Japan's chip industry.

“There is a four-part documentary I saw on YouTube that went into much more (fascinating) detail.”HN comment, 2022

What Hacker News said 3

Recommendsnewman8rSep 2018

“I wouldn't call it the best documentary, but I think people here will like it”

Four-part documentary on the history of Japan's electronics industry.

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I wouldn't call it the best documentary, but I think people here will like it, it's a 4 part documentary: "A Video History of Japan's Electronic Industry" I. Birth of the transformer: this video II. Circuits in stone: link III. Calculator wars: link IV. Tech Giant: link

in “Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?” · view on HN
RecommendsrmrfstarJun 2020

“Japanese semiconductor industry, for which there is an excellent NHK documentary”

Excellent NHK documentary on the Japanese semiconductor industry.

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This is bad read on the history of innovation. I offer two counter-examples, though there are many more: (1) Japanese semiconductor industry, for which there is an excellent NHK documentary [1]. (2) After WW2, the British invited Soviet engineers to tour jet engine factories as a token of good faith. The engineers documented the factory layout, and wore adhesive on their shoes to gather metal filings for later analysis. A few years later, Mig-15's were shooting American planes out of the sky over Korea. A similar example: the British transferred huge bodies of knowledge to US aircraft engine manufacturers during WW2. This laid the foundation for the industry's future success. [1] this video

in “Officer of China’s People’s Liberation Army Arrested at LAX” · view on HN
RecommendsJKCalhounJul 2022

“There is a four-part documentary I saw on YouTube that went into much more (fascinating) detail.”

Four-part documentary with much more fascinating detail.

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There is a four-part documentary I saw on YouTube that went into much more (fascinating) detail. Part 1: this video Part 2: link Part 3: link Part 4: link

in “The Rise and Peak of Japanese Semiconductors” · view on HN