Dr. Emeagwali nventor fastest computer

Born in Nigeria, Philip Emeagwali dropped out of school at age 14 because his father could no longer afford to pay his school fees. He was home-schooled by his father using mental exercises to solve 100 math problems in one hour. As one of the most famous African-American inventors of the 20th century, Dr. Emeagwali has won the Gordon Bell Prize as well as the Nobel Prize for computation. His computers are currently being used to forecast the weather and to predict the likelihood and effects of future global warming.

The noted black inventor received acclaim based, at least in part, on his study of nature, specifically bees. Emeagwali saw an inherent efficiency in the way bees construct and work with honeycomb. He determined that he could emulate this process with computers to be the most efficient and powerful. In 1989, emulating the bees’ honeycomb construction, Emeagwali used 65,000 processors to invent the world’s fastest computer, which performs computations at 3.1 billion calculations per second.

Dr. James E. West

Dr. James E. West and a colleague, Gerhard Sessler developed the microphone (Electroacoustic Transducer Electret Microphone, its official name) while working at Bell Laboratories and they received a patent for it in 1962.

West worked at Bell Labs as an intern while he was attending Temple University.  James Edward West holds 47 US patents and over 200 foreign patents in a career that spanned 40 years with Bell Labs.  He now works with Johns Hopkins University as a research professor.

President Obama today said it was “the height of irresponsibility” for financial corporations to have doled out $18 billion in bonuses to their employees in a year when many banks shed jobs and turned to the government for funds.

Surrounded by leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and with the new law’s namesake, Lilly Ledbetter, at his side, President Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — a powerful tool to fight discrimination.

Jair Dynast - Art of Invention

Rapper Jair Dynast delivers a bangin’ new rap single to commemorate African Heritage Month and celebrate the contributions of African-American inventors featuring Barack Obama. The song will be available as a Free download beginning February at www.JairDynast.net/mp3.

Dr. Patricia Bath

Ophthalmologist and famous black inventor, Dr. Patricia Bath has dedicated her life to the treatment and prevention of visual impairments. Her personal belief that everyone has the “Right to Sight” led her to invent a specialized tool and procedure for the removal of cataracts in 1985. Dr. Bath obtained a US patent for the Laserphaco Probe in 1988.

The Laserphaco Probe combines an optical laser, irrigation system and suction tubes to perfect the procedure that vaporizes the cataract and lens via its suction tubes. Dr. Bath’s invention increased the accuracy and results of cataract surgery, which had previously been performed manually with a mechanical grinder.

Jair Dynast’s grandfather has received this operation in Barbados to remove cataracts from both his eyes in his early 80s. He is now 94 years old. Overwhelming evidence that Dr. Bath’s invention will restore people’s vision worldwide.

Benjamin Banneker

Sometime in the early 1750s, Benjamin Banneker borrowed a pocket watch from a wealthy acquaintance, took the watch home so he could take it apart to study its components. After returning the watch, he created a fully functioning clock entirely out of carved wooden pieces. The clock was amazingly precise, and would keep on ticking for decades. As the result of the attention his self-made clock received, Banneker was able to start up his own watch and clock repair business.

The son of former slaves, Benjamin worked on his family’s tobacco farm and received some early education from a Quaker school. However, he gained his vast knowledge from being a prolific reader. At the tender age of 15 he was able to take over the farm and he invented irrigation for the farm from nearby springs.

Benjamin Banneker was self-taught in astronomy and mathematics by reading books he borrowed from a friend.  He was able to accurately predict a 1789 solar eclipse from the knowledge that he gained in astronomy. Later he became the author and publisher of the annual Almanac and Ephemeris of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. He distributed a copy to the Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson with a letter urging the abolition of slavery.

Last night, President Obama declared federal emergencies caused by winter storms in two states, answering requests for aid from Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. (with picture of signing)

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar kicked off the daily press briefing today with his plans for cleaning out a department that has become famous for scandal, before passing the podium to Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Iconic American companies like IBM, Jet Blue, and Honeywell sent their leadership to meet with the President this morning to discuss how they can get the economy moving again.