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Practical applications of physics rarely tend to win Nobels, and only after substantial delay. CCDs were invented in 1969 and were being mass produced in consum
by khuey 8y ago
Practical applications of physics rarely tend to win Nobels, and only after substantial delay. CCDs were invented in 1969 and were being mass produced in consumer electronics in the 90s but the Nobel was only awarded in 2009 (the same year Kao won his). Blue LEDs weren't recognized until 2014. Kirby got a Nobel for the integrated circuit (invented in the late 50s) in 2000!
A slightly more cynical person would say that the Nobel committee is not really interested in awarding prizes for this sort of work.
- kondro 8y agoA more pragmatic person might argue that the reward for innovative practical applications already exists (i.e. money) and that by rewarding more purely theoretical research that doesn't have any immediately practical applications that you encourage more of it to take place.
- pkaye 8y agoHow much money did the inventor of the Blue LED get?
- kondro 8y agoHe was employed to create products which may or may not have ended up having commercial application with a salary when he quit of ¥20m (very above average in Japan). Plus he won a settlement after of USD$9m. Not to mention the fact that he also won a Nobel.