Ralph Baer, Lucas' ILM receive National Award

By Ross Miller

On Tuesday, US Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez announced the winners of the 2004 (better late than never) National Medal of Technology, "the nation's highest honor for technological innovation." Among the 7 recipients (2 individuals, 5 companies) were Ralph Henry Baer and Industrial Light & Magic.

Baer, for those who do not know their roots, created the first home video game console (Magnavox Odyssey), but perhaps more notably invented every child's favorite frustration, Simon (pictured). Industrial Light & Magic is George Lucas' technology development house, having worked on nearly every movie released lately (Harry Potter 4, Chicken Little, The Island, and, of course, Revenge of the Sith). Congratulations, guys -
now, when is Nolan Bushnell going to get his due?

[via Gamasutra]

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