The 2006 Class of Inductees

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Herman Affel, 1893–1972, and Lloyd Espenschied, 1889–1986, Coaxial cable. The coaxial cable made it possible to carry thousands of simultaneous phone calls on long distance circuits.

Karl Bosch, 1884–1940, and Fritz Haber, 1868–1934, Ammonia production process. The Haber-Bosch process has remained unchanged since the early 1900s, and is used today to manufacture thousands of tons of ammonia used worldwide in the production of fertilizer.

Willard Boyle, 1924–, and George Smith, 1930–, Charge-coupled device. The charge-coupled device was key to advancing digital imaging technology, and can be found in most imaging devices including digital cameras, scanners and satellite surveillance.

Vinton Cerf, 1943– and Robert Kahn, 1938–, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Cerf and Kahn created the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) that allows the widespread use of the Internet. Cerf and Kahn are often referred to as the “fathers of the Internet.”

Robert Gore, 1937–, ePTFE. Gore invented a new form of polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) widely known by the GORE-TEX® brand name. Valued by outdoor enthusiasts, GORE-TEX® materials also have applications in medical, industrial, electrical and textile products.

Richard Hoe, 1812–1886, Rotary printing press. Hoe’s advanced printing press technology allowed for the development of the first mass media, and revolutionized newspaper printing.

Benjamin Holt, 1849–1920, Track-type tractor. Holt ushered in the modern era of mechanized farming with his invention, the first track-type tractor known as the “Caterpillar.” The tractor went on to be applied not just to agriculture, but also earthmoving and military operations.

Ali Javan, 1926–, Helium-neon laser. The helium-neon laser is the most useful, practical and profitable type of laser in use today. It made holography practical, is used in UPC code checkout scanners and is critical for a wide range of construction, medical and monitoring technologies.

Robert Langer, 1948–, Controlled Drug Delivery. Langer revolutionized biomedical technology through the development of a controlled drug delivery system. He also pioneered a variety of remotely controlled drug delivery systems that vary the amount of drug released through electric impulse, ultrasound and magnetic fields.

Julio Palmaz, 1945–, Intravascular Stent. The Palmaz® Stent was the first commercially successful intravascular stent. It has revolutionized cardiac care, with more than a million people undergoing coronary artery stenting annually to repair clogged arteries.

Gregory Pincus, 1903–1967, Oral contraceptive pill. By creating the first practical oral contraceptive, the birth control pill, in the 1950s, Gregory Pincus brought privacy and convenience to women worldwide.

Games Slayter, 1896—1964, Dale Kleist, 1909–1998, and John Thomas, 1907–1991, Fiberglass. In the 1930s, the trio developed the method for mass production of affordable fiberglass, the basis for Owens-Corning Fiberglas® Corporation. Today, Owens Corning is a $5 billion global leader, manufacturing not just glass fiber insulation, but also glass fiber impregnated laminates used in sports cars, boats and bathroom fixtures.

Elihu Thomson, 1853–1937, Arc lighting. Thomson was an integral contributor to the development of electricity as a power and light source during the turn of the 20th century.

William Upjohn, 1853–1932, Dissolvable pill. In 1880, Upjohn began developing a pill that dissolved easily in the stomach. In 1884 he invented a machine to mass-produce these pills with a regulated dosage.

Granville Woods, 1856–1910, Railroad telegraph. A prolific inventor, Woods developed the railroad telegraph, a device that transmitted messages between moving trains. Prior to its creation, moving trains were unable to communicate with each other or with rail stations.

In 2006, the National Inventors Hall of Fame also inducted a group of historically significant inventors who have long been deserving of recognition.