Xerox nabs top tech medal

The White House is awarding Xerox Corp. the National Medal of Technology, the highest honor accorded to U.S. inventors.
Xerox is based in Stamford and has its primary printing technology-development center in Webster, N.Y., near Rochester. Xerox”™s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in California also played a major role in the development of the personal computer.
“Xerox has been and continues to be a leading innovator and a key architect of the Information Age ”“ from the first plain-paper copier to today”™s document processes that are revolutionizing the productivity of people and businesses worldwide,” said Sophie Vandebroek, chief technology officer and president of the Xerox Innovation Group, in a written statement. “This is a fantastic recognition of the top-notch work of the scientists and engineers who are at Xerox today; as well as the many Xerox people across our company who have contributed to these innovations over the past 60 years.”
It marks the first time a Connecticut laureate has received the award since 2001, when Yale University semiconductor researcher Jerry Woodall was honored.
Bob Metcalfe, a Massachusetts venture capitalist who invented the Ethernet computer networking standard while an employee of Xerox PARC, received the award in 2003.
The last time Fairfield County representatives received the medal was 1993, when future Union Carbide CEO William Joyce was recognized for his work in plastics, and General Electric Co.”™s Walter Robb received the medal for his leadership of GE”™s research and development center.