Eureka

Looks at the history of five revolutionary inventions: the aeroplane, the television, the mobile phone, the barcode and the personal computer. Weightman explores not only the eccentric personalities behind these inventions but the wider economic, political, technological, and intellectual circumstances that can make or break even the most fabulous of ideas. Working backward from the 'Eureka!' moment, he offers insight into the unusual encounters and bizarre detours taken on the march towards discovery. --From publisher description.