In American Genesis, which covers the century of technological innovation in the United States beginning in 1876,Thomas Hughes a
ssigns special prominence to Thomas Edison as archetype of the independent nineteenth-century inventor. However, Hughes virtually ignores Edison's famous contemporary and notorious adversary in the field of electric light and power, George Westinghouse. This comparative neglect of Westinghouse is consistent with other recent historians' works, although it marks an intriguing departure from the prevailing view during the inventors' lifetimes (and for decades afterward) of Edison and Westinghouse as the two "pioneer innovators" of the electrical industry. My recent reevaluation of Westinghouse, facilitated by materials found in railroad archives, suggests that while Westinghouse and Edison shared important traits as inventors, they differed markedly in their approach to the business aspects of innovation. For Edison as an inventor, novelty was always paramount: the overriding goal of the business of innovation was simply to generate funding for new inventions. Edison therefore undertook just enough sales, product development, and manufacturing to accomplish this. Westinghouse, however, shared the attitudes of the railroads and other industries for whom he developed innovations: product development, standardization, system, and order were top priorities. Westinghouse thus better exemplifies the systematic approach to technological development that would become a hallmark of modern corporate research and development.The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. reevaluate a controversial theory
no controversy is discussed in the passage
B. identify the flaws in a study
author provides his opinion as against opinion of the author of 'American Genesis'
C. propose a new method of historical research
no proposal is made
D. compare two contrasting analyses
same as B. no comparisons being made.
E. provide a fresh perspective
yes. The author's opinion if novel "This comparative neglect of Westinghouse is consistent with other recent historians’ works"
According to the passage, Edison’s chief concern as an inventor was the
A. availability of a commercial market
B. costs of developing a prototype
C. originality of his inventions
"yes. For Edison as an inventor, novelty was always paramount"[/color]
D. maintenance of high standards throughout production
E. generation of enough profits to pay for continued marketing
