Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

DAVID SARNOFF, PRESIDENT OF THE RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA, ADDRESSES SEVERAL HUNDRED PERSONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS. NEW ROLE SEEN FOR RADIO Sarnoff. Speaking at Stockholders' Meeting, Says Radio Will Electronize the Industries of Peace as It Has Instruments and Industries of War ENVISAGING outstandinR op- portunities for American en- terprise in the postwar period, David Sarnoff, President of Radio Corporation of America, address- ing the annual meeting of stock- holders on May 4, said that radio will electronize the industries of peace as it has electronized instru- ments and industries of war. Research and invention coupled with lessons learned in the war, and the accumulated demand caused by obsolescence, all will be released to re-cast radio for its new role in a world, which Mr. Sarnoff described as having been made smaller by aviation and by radio itself. "Radio is not primarily an in- strument of war," said Mr. Sarnoff. "It is above all things an indispen- sable implement of peace and cul- ture. In our Country it is a servant of the people, regardless of geog- raphy, of age, or creed, or color. In the interest of the Nation and its welfare, we must not lose sight of the part radio will play in the fu- ture. Although we must first serve the present—lest there be no future —it is our duty to look beyond the horizon of war to survey our task in helping radio to meet its post- war responsibilities. "With peace will come new indus- trial opportunities and world-mar- kets, new services and greater effi- ciency enhanced by wartime lessons in conservation. These opportuni- ties will bring problems that will call for clear thinking not only na- tionally but on an international scale as well. "Radio is the one agency of mass communication which can bring all people everywhere within earshot of the great problems of peace and of the social and economic solutions that will be proposed. The war has proved the effectiveness of interna- tional short-wave broadcasting. Ra- dio has won distinction as "the \'oice of the Freedoms.' It can be the world-wide voice of peace for whatever agency the victorious United Nations may agree to set up to preserve the peace of the world. The promotion of peace and good will, the reconstruction of the world, and the competition for new markets will require still greater expansion in this field." While war has brought terrific energy to many fields of discovery and development. Mr. Sarnoff said that none has felt the imjiact more than radio. Predicting that radio instruments will emerge from the war almost human in their capa- bilities, he said that they would possess not only a sense of direc- tion, but a sense of detection that will open new avenues of service. For example, the radio direction finder, which heretofore had only an ear, now also has an eye. "The safety of aviation will be greatly enhanced, for the aviator will be able to see the ground through clouds or darkness," con- tinued Mr. Sarnoff. "By the scien- tific application of the radio echo, the radio 'eye' will avert collisions, while the radio altimeter will meas- ure the altitude and warn of moun- tains ahead or structures below. "American inventive genius con- tributed much to the creation and perfection of the great offensive and defensive weapon, known in the United States as radar. The word means radio detecting and ranging. I am happy to report that RCA Laboratories have been in the fore- front of radar research and devel- opment. The radio-electron tube was the key to its application. To prevent information from reaching the enemy which might facilitate their development of radar, news concerning it was restricted in the United States until recently. I be- lieve it now can be said that by the use of radio and especially radar, the United Nations have been able to avert many disasters, save prec- ious lives, and inflict severe damage upon their enemies. "Television and radar add new dimensions to radio; wireless teleg- raphy was its first dimension, and broadcasting its second. Applica- tion of these new developments of radio to peace, opens new fields of service on land, at sea, and in the air." The challenge to radio, however, does not all come from science, Mr. Sarnoff said, for radio has vast social as well as scientific and eco- nomic imiilications. For instance, electrons operate in response to the changeless laws of nature. But the performance of radio is regulated by the laws and actions of men— political laws which are subject to change. "Freedom of the air, whether in broadcasting or television, ranks in importance and responsibility with freedom of the press," said Mr. Sarnoff, "and freedom of enter- prise, in the case of radio joined. 28 RADIO AGE]