NEWARK , February 15, 2000 - Imagine a world with no software, supermarket scanners, or telephone networks. Ever think how our lives would be different without radio, movies, or long distance phone calls? What if there were no submarines or steroid treatments for arthritis?

This year's seven inductees into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame are credited in the development of each of these well-known items and widely-used essentials for everyday living. They will join other legends of the past and masterminds of the present when they are immortalized in the Inventors Hall of Fame at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) on Thursday, February 17, 2000.

The Hall of Fame honors New Jersey inventors responsible for the technologies and processes that make our lives better, safer and longer, causing some to dub New Jersey "The Invention State." The 2000 honorees were announced by Harry Roman, chairman of the Inventors Hall of Fame Board of Trustees.

"New Jersey inventors are the most imaginative and productive in the nation," said Roman. "This year's honorees have made significant contributions to many of the state's major industries, including telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, computing, retail, and shipping," he added.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) will receive the Advancement of Invention Award, which recognizes the role of UMDNJ in advancing biomedical technology transfer, especially in the creation of new biomedical companies. This year's "Corporate Invention" inductee will be Metrologic Instruments, Inc., in Blackwood, makers of bar code scanning products. In addition, "Inventor of the Year" awards will be presented to the inventors of chemicals for cleaning oil spills, safer adhesives for food packaging and non-invasive medical devices, as well as the technology behind cell phone and fax transmissions. The inventor of a track joiner for model railroads will also be recognized with a Special Award.

The New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame selects all awardees based on the importance of the problem solved by the invention, the novelty of the invention, and the contribution to the advancement of the state-of-the-art, commercial impact and the utilitarian or socioeconomic impact. To qualify for the award, the inventor must have completed a substantial portion of the work in New Jersey or have been a New Jersey resident while working on the project.

Honoree Background Information

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Invented a method to produce electronic-grade, synthetic quartz crystals to perform electrical functions previously achieved only with natural quartz. An entire generation of telecommunication switching and communications switching systems was based on their technology.

Holds over 300 American and foreign patents in radio, telegraphy and motion pictures. Most recognized for his invention of the "Triode Audion Tube," which for the first time allowed the transmission and amplification of voice and other sound via electromagnetic or radio waves. The invention also made long-distance telephone possible.

Internationally known as the holder of the first software patent in 1968 and as the "Father of the Software Industry" for his development and marketing of the first commercial software product, Autoflow.

Built the first submarine to operate successfully in the open sea. Invented the basic submarine technologies essential for safe and successful operation of such boats, including the even-keel hydroplanes, ballast tanks, divers' compartments, periscope, twin-hull design, and much more.

Credited with the invention, medical use and production of the steroids prednisone and prednisolone, two highly effective antiarthritis drugs still used extensively today.

Developed and patented the Helium-Neon (HeNe) Gas Laser, the first visible light laser. The ubiquitous red laser is used in supermarket scanners, and widely employed in repair shop, construction, laboratory, and industrial settings, as well as security and guidance systems for satellites, rockets, missiles and planes.

Created by the State Legislature in 1970, UMDNJ is a statewide network of academic health centers that includes eight schools on five campuses, enrolling more than 4,500 students. UMDNJ ranks among the 100 top research universities in the country, and is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the education of health professionals and scientists, the conduct of research, the delivery of health care, and service to the people of New Jersey.

Metrologic is a leading manufacturer of laser and holographic bar code scanning products used by apparel retailers, home centers, video stores, libraries, bookstores, and airport baggage handling, and a myriad of industrial applications, including warehousing and parcel tracking uses.

INVENTORS OF THE YEAR AWARDEES

Invented a method to reduce the bandwidth required to send high-quality speech signals on narrow-band channels, effectively expanding by many times the carrying capacity of the limited area of the electromagnetic spectrum used by the growing number of cellular phone users.

Developed an oil dispersant for heavier and/or more weathered oils which can remain in the oil film and resist extraction by seawater long enough to be effective. Prior to its development, most dispersants were considered relatively ineffective against heavy or weathered oils

Invented video-data compression technologies at the foundation of modern digital-image processing. His inventions support high quality FAX, video teleconferencing, video-on-demand, and video over the Internet.

Developed specialized water-based chemical compounds, adhesives and packaging, including an adhesive that replaced the dangerous chemical compounds used to bond layers of plastic film for food packaging. Also invented non-invasive medical devices to treat hearing conditions and certain arthritic and repetitive stress conditions.

SPECIAL AWARD

Invented the first practical model railroad track joiner, eliminating the need to solder track rails together, as previously required. Also credited with other inventions including the patented Super-Flex Track, Snap-Switches and Custom-Line turnouts.

Established in 1987, the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame promotes and fosters creativity, innovation and invention contributing to economic growth and improving the quality of life. The Hall of Fame honors New Jersey inventors and encourages recognition of New Jersey as the "Invention State." The Hall of Fame operates from New Jersey Institute of Technology, a public research university, where a marble "wall of fame" was established in the lobby of the William S. Guttenberg Information Technologies Center. Including the 2000 honorees, the Hall of Fame has inducted over 86 individuals and over 12 corporations.

The 12th annual induction banquet is scheduled for Thursday, February 17, 2000, at 6 p.m. in NJIT's Hazell Center Ballroom. Dinner tickets are $100 each and can be ordered by calling (973)-596-3435 or by writing to the New Jersey Inventors Congress and Hall of Fame, c/o NJIT, University Heights, Newark, N.J. 07012.

NJIT is a public research university enrolling over 8,200 bachelor's, master's and doctoral students in 80 degree programs through its five colleges: Newark College of Engineering, New Jersey School of Architecture, College of Science and Liberal Arts, the School of Management and the Albert Dorman Honors College. Research initiatives include manufacturing, microelectronics, multimedia, transportation, computer science, solar astrophysics, environmental engineering and science, and architecture and building science.

Yahoo! Internet Life magazine has ranked NJIT "America's most wired public university" for two consecutive years, U.S. News and World Report's 1999 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges ranked NJIT among the nation's top universities, and Money magazine's most recent issue of Best College Buys rated NJIT as the sixth best value among U.S. science and technology schools and among the top 100 overall. In September 1999, Mademoiselle ranked NJIT as the second most Internet-connected university in the nation.