The Lab That Ran Away from Xerox

1
The Lab That Ran Away from Xerox

• Dion Jackson
• Tracey Norris

2
OVERVIEW

• What is PARC
• PARC Technologies
• Office Systems
• Lost Systems
• Reasons for Losses
• Management
• Rebellion
• Future of PARC

3
WHAT IS PARC

• Palo Alto Research Center Palo Alto, Ca.
• Received 150 Million in 14 years
• Half of funds for Computer Science
• Half of funds for Physical Sciences.

4
PARCS PURPOSE

• Main RD facility for Xerox
• Computerized Office Systems
• Custom chips for future copiers
• CAD AI

5
THE ALTO

• Early PC runner
• Renegade development
• 1970s
• Research Prototype
• Test marketed at the White House Congress
• Axed in 1980 for the Star

6
LOST TECHNOLOGIES

• Windows Screens
• Mouse Capability
• Bit-map Technology
• Workstations
• Apple Lisa
• Would become the Mac
• Smalltalk Programming

7
BRAVO

• What is Bravo?
• Renegade Programming
• Used in Alto
• Microsoft Word is Bravo.

8
WHAT HAPPENED?

• Corporate is in Stamford, Connecticut
• Hands Off
• Copiers
• Office Systems
• Closed like Star
• Customer power
• Biggerism

9
LURING THE LAB BACK

• Strengthen the Ties
• Hands On!
• Joint Hiring
• Understanding of the Market
• Change, Change, Change

10
CONCLUSION

• Balance
• Encouraging Creativity
• Understanding Corporate Strategy
• Focus

11
QUESTIONS

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