career frustration

What we need to convey: How hard it was to get going. Similar to the last section, but getting hired at SRI was a bit of a breakthrough so that's why this section is separate. SRI is where he would be doing his work.

Mood: The mood of this episode is probably pretty light hearted.

Background: There is not much, just what's in the Q&A on the right.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was created in 1958 as the United States' response to Sputnik. This will be important later for Doug's funding and the Internet.

Initially, it was really hard to get funded for what he wanted to do. Don't forget that back in the 1950's there were very few computers around: "Four high-quality civilian experts had been enlisted by one agency as a site-visit team; brain researcher, psychologist, computer expert -- and for me it was a very enjoyable day's dialog. But the later letter from the agency informed me regretfully that [paraphrased] "... since your interesting research would require exceptionally advanced programming support, and since your Palo Alto area is so far from the centers of computer expertise, we don't think that you could staff your project adequately..."

Interviewee's: Curt Carlson. CEO of SRI.

Visuals: More SRI. His lab, which looks very different now.

: Doug knocked at HP's door, who were in the instrument business at the time. They were nice and offered him a job as they liked the patents. Both Mr.. Hewlett and Mr.. Packard interviewed him. I he asked if they planned to get in to computers. The head of research said "gee Doug, not a chance".