Andrew Viterbi's fabulous formula [Medal of Honor

Abstract

THE RANKS OF FIRST-RATE INVENTORS are chock-full of characters who are brash, egotistical, and temperamental. And for quite a few, even those adjectives are stretched to their euphemistic limits. So meeting Andrew J. Viterbi can be something of a shock. He speaks softly, responds patiently. It's not that he's shy; it's a soothing kind of quiet, the kind that makes a guest comfortable. He's dressed nicely-in gray slacks and a dress shirt- but not formally; he rarely wears a tie. He's mostly bald, with a round face and eyes that crinkle when he smiles, which is frequently. He looks like someone's grandfather (which indeed he is; he has five grandchildren).