How My Training As An Inventioneer Altered Ethernet

Everyone said it was impossible. Engineers laughed and called it ‘The Billings Folly’ — as a joke. Then the entire internet adopted it, and now the whole world uses it. Dr. Roger Billings tells the inside story of how full duplex gigabit Ethernet was invented, rejected at IEEE standards meetings, and eventually became the global standard behind modern internet, streaming video, and AI. Discover the inventions that made it possible — the concentrator, the equalizer circuit, and the balanced hybrid circuit — and hear what happened when Ron Crane, the father of Ethernet himself, stepped in to defend it.

About DrB

Dr. Roger Billings is a visionary innovator whose work has touched the lives of millions of students and transformed the landscape of education. Widely known as “DrB” to the countless kids who benefit from his groundbreaking Acellus learning system, Dr. Billings has dedicated his life to advancing education through technology. As part of DrB’s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to “give back” by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.


Read more about DrB » 
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »

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6,277 Comments

  1. Madelyn

    This live was very interesting! I can’t wait for the next one.

    Reply
  2. Jennavieve

    Hello from New York:D

    Reply
  3. Kasi

    I learned tons from this Roger Billings and hope to learn more! And the fact that R-51 said his invention wasn’t supposed to answer that question was quite funny.

    Reply
  4. Jovani

    I liked everything you talked about

    Reply
  5. River

    I like learning about how much Dr. Billings had to do with various things like computing

    Reply
  6. Janae

    science is so different i keep learning smt nes

    Reply
  7. William

    Hearing about the new treatment for deafness is incredible!

    Reply
  8. Emery

    Loved the episode! The segment about deafness reminded of the videos online where babies get glasses/hearing aids for the first time. You can see their eyes change as they realize what they’ve been missing out on!

    Reply
  9. Witten

    I love learning new things about science!

    Reply
  10. Amalee

    How very interesting! Keep up the great work!

    Reply
  11. Hadley

    I liked hearing how fast the speed of light is!

    Reply
  12. Corben

    I love doing acellus! also I cant believe you altered Ethernet.

    Reply
  13. Axel

    My parents helped us make a light bulb using a jar some copper wire and a battery.

    Reply
  14. Nicole

    Thank you for the Science Live video.

    Reply
  15. Gionni

    To go from 1MB to 1000 MB is a lot to try to jump from.

    Reply
  16. Charlie

    Mr. Billings who would you say is the most ingenuitive Inventioneer you have met?

    Reply
  17. Davis

    I found hearing about the new treatment for deafness having positive results incredibly moving. Hearing for the first time! Wow, what a great invention

    Reply
    • Leila

      Love this one!!

      Reply
  18. Jaiden

    Area 51 always makes me laugh!!

    Reply
  19. Adalynn

    My dad says he has a network interface card he uses in his servers.

    Reply
  20. Victor

    Thank you for such an educational Science Live presentation! It was very interesting to learn how Dr. Roger Billings invented the full gigabit Ethernet and how politics are involved in approving or rejecting a major invention.

    Reply
  21. Beckett

    Can you use barbed wire to send electricity like normal wire?

    Reply
  22. Lily

    Tuning in from Colorado!

    Reply
    • Sophia

      Wow that was amazing! This science life is great!

      Reply
  23. Emma

    You gotta store everything in your “mental toolbox”.

    Reply
  24. Alex

    I agree that it is good too look for the problem and then try to invent the solution for them.

    Reply
  25. Alexandra

    Thank you for this live! It was very interesting. I love having something new to look forward to and learn every week!

    Reply
  26. Caiden

    This has to be my most favorite science live ever! Networks are very interesting!

    Reply
  27. Myles

    You BIG R made a big difrense!

    Reply
  28. Robert

    So that’s where wide band came from. Now we have ultra wide band so much improvement on the internet.

    Reply
  29. Jaylin

    Very inspiring live!

    Reply
  30. Daniel

    Seeing how the ethernet evolved and how much of an impact Roger Billings had even though he was ridiculed is such an inspiration to anyone in the world!

    Reply
    • Savannah

      Very interesting video!!!

      Reply
  31. Harper

    This science live was really fascinating!

    Reply
  32. Layla

    Great video!!!! My uncle wanted to watch it with me. He says thanks.

    Reply
    • Isaiah

      This is a amazing video

      Reply
  33. Brooklyn

    It’s interesting to think that the things we take for granted didn’t exist not that long ago.

    Reply
  34. Claire

    Science live is so fun to watch! it is also very educational too!

    Reply
  35. Jameson

    It’s crazy how far technology has come.

    Reply
  36. Natalie

    Did Dr. Billings actually invent the personal computer?

    Reply
  37. Ryleigh

    I love how she dressed up as a cow girl!

    Reply
  38. Isaac

    R51 should team up with the protojays

    Reply
  39. Diana

    I like how persevering is a common theme throughout the video.

    Reply
  40. Jack

    Did Edison use fishing line in search of filament?

    Reply
    • Liam

      I liked Dr John talking about the job he did making the concentrator.

      Reply
  41. Malakhi

    Pretty awesome!

    Reply
  42. Felicitas

    Such an interesting Live!

    Reply
  43. Roman

    I was interested in the Ethernet. How do Category 5 wires receive data packages from faraway distances?

    Reply
  44. Daniel

    As this is my first video i come to watch for Acellus Academy i do really like the way they made it entertaining while keeping it very educational!!

    Reply
  45. Sofia

    I loved this live

    Reply
  46. Matthew

    This was a amazing and interesting Science Live!

    Reply
  47. Noah

    Awesome presentation

    Reply
  48. Jjaxon

    Ms Pajet is very nice

    Reply
  49. Parker

    wow! It’s truly awesome how science can allow people who were born without the ability to hear to be able to hear for the first time!

    Reply
  50. Evelyn

    I love Science Live!

    Reply
  51. Matthew

    This was a amazing Science Live!

    Reply
  52. Josephine

    I think this is my new favorite

    Reply
  53. Baylee

    I loved this video!

    Reply
  54. Nathan

    I love Science Live

    Reply
  55. Austin

    Loved this one

    Reply
  56. Sterling

    The ethernet is very interesting

    Reply
  57. Destini

    science is my favorite!

    Reply
  58. Camila

    Nice live! Loved learning about Ethernet.

    Reply
  59. Kera

    Thanks for another amazing video!

    Reply
  60. Gwin

    Science live is interesting. Even though Im not big on sciece

    Reply
  61. Jefferson

    very interesting and fun

    Reply
  62. Kendra

    This week’s episode was so interesting!

    Reply
  63. Noah

    I think it is really cool that somebody made people that are deaf be able to hear thank you Roger billings!!!

    Reply
  64. Gideon

    I think Ethernet is rilly cool!

    Reply
  65. Jase

    interesting science live

    Reply
  66. Aiden

    Thank you dr Billings!

    Reply
  67. Brantley

    Another great Science Live. Learning about ethernet was very interesting

    Reply
  68. Michael

    I am hard of hearing and I could not imagine not being able to hear anything at all. I am so glad that the shot worked for the people who were deaf!

    Reply
  69. Emmalyn

    john, now i been waiting 67 hours john i need my documents! JHON!😂😂🤣🤣🤣

    Reply
  70. Perla

    Thank you for the science livee!

    Reply
  71. Kayden

    I love the part when it explains the Ethernet.

    Reply
  72. Assal

    I loved this new video today it was so cool and it was so fun.

    Reply
  73. Natalia

    Can’t wait for the next live!!

    Reply
  74. Parker

    Awesome LIVE

    Reply
  75. Owen

    I loved this one

    Reply
  76. Madison

    I love learning about science

    Reply
  77. Emmalin

    I love you Ms. Pajet! You helped me with my social anxiety, I can now speak more clearly and not be shy, thank you!!!

    Reply
  78. Andrew

    Supper cool and interesting.

    Reply
  79. Temperance

    Ethernet is so helpful!

    Reply
  80. Philip

    Thank goodness for brains and inventioneers!

    Reply
  81. Rexann

    HELLO! I am so excited to learn next weeks video! I’m sorry I’m so late. Bye from Texas!

    Reply
  82. Blake

    Great live guys

    Reply
  83. Olyvia

    I love Science Live that lesson was so cool😆

    Reply
  84. Vanessa

    i love science live

    Reply
  85. Adelyn

    I have never heard of the ethernet before this.

    Reply
  86. Carson

    wow very interesting

    Reply
  87. Jonah

    Ethernet is awesome!

    Reply
  88. Braedyn

    I loved learning about Ethernet it’s so cool

    Reply
    • Baylee

      Great science live this week. Can’t wait for the one coming out tomorrow.

      Reply
  89. Gavin

    Hello from TEXAS!!!!
    This is my second time watching this.

    Reply
    • Emmalin

      It’s fun you’ll love it!! I’m from Texas too!

      Reply
  90. Rhemy

    Great science live

    Reply
  91. Addison

    These science lives have made me love learning, Thank you! I wonder what the next one will be

    Reply
  92. Samiya

    i don’t understand how they do these videos every week.It’s like they always have something new to talk about

    Reply
  93. Emma

    I enjoyed the video, it was very interesting.

    Reply
  94. Cj

    The invention of being able to let deaf people hear is awesome.

    Reply
  95. Evelyn

    This was a great Science Live!

    Reply
  96. Erianna

    Comment i love live is was so good

    Reply
  97. Liana

    thanks for showing us!

    Reply
  98. Karissa

    It’s really cool how they were trying to find a solution for sending at the same time!

    Reply
  99. Jacob

    Wow ethernet is so interesting to learn about.

    Reply
  100. Eloise

    I love science live!!!

    Reply
  101. Bentley

    I love the videos and think they are really cool

    Reply
  102. Jocelynn

    Wow! That is so cool, nice to learn something new.

    Reply
  103. Keira

    I like how there is always something new and different to learn about on science live.

    Reply
  104. Eleanor

    It is interesting that Etherent can send two signals at the same time.

    Reply
  105. Drake

    love science live

    Reply
  106. Em

    The videos are always so fun and interesting.

    Reply
  107. Delani

    If you have people that don’t believe in you but you put your best work in anyways you can get very far in life and what you what to get done.

    Reply
  108. Adelyn

    I didn’t even know what ethernet was…

    Reply
  109. Truitt

    That was a great science live.

    Reply
  110. Reese

    i loved that it was so cooool

    Reply
  111. Joselynn

    Another great week of Science Live!

    Reply
  112. Aiden

    Can’t wait to see the next Science Live!

    Reply
  113. Mckenzie

    Science is changing lives I love it.

    Reply
  114. Lily

    it was really fun to watch

    Reply
  115. Sofia

    Yet another great episode! And I agree with you both – the bigger companies didn’t want you to get a headstart!

    Reply
  116. Charlie

    This was a cool science live!

    Reply
  117. Owen

    Great Science Live! Thank you!

    Reply
  118. Austin

    I honestly didn’t know this much about ethernet until these two videos. Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  119. Archer

    this is super interesting

    Reply
  120. Madaux

    very informative thank you

    Reply
  121. Nguyen

    what is the ethernet ?

    Reply
  122. Brailyn

    Loved it!

    Reply
  123. Isaiah

    How did Dr. Roger billing build Ethernet?

    Reply
  124. Ireland

    Thank you for another great episode! It’s been so interesting to discover the ethernet with you guys!

    Reply
  125. James

    Dr.billing keep working! your doing great!!!!

    Reply
  126. Zaina

    I think it’s so cool to see how swapping a standard engineering mindset for an “inventioneer’s” could actually shake up something as foundational as Ethernet.

    Reply
  127. Summer

    That’s crazy how people found a way to make deaf people hear. I’m deaf in one ear and I have a hearing aid. Can you make a video on how hearing aids work?

    Reply
  128. Jack

    What year was the ethernet made?

    Reply
  129. Anissa

    You guys are amazing at speaking and it stands out for me really well and I thank you guys for the school and I thank you guys for everything that you have done in progressed 👏

    Reply
  130. Ella

    nice live see u next week.

    Reply
  131. Hadley

    What a great science live-hadley from texas

    Reply
  132. Grayling

    Will the people who made the hearing improvement stay improving or will it go back?

    Reply
  133. Jaieden

    What is the new breakthrough for deaf people? My mom has minears disease she has lost hearing bc of it.

    Reply
  134. Harper

    I always look forward to watching the science live!

    Reply
  135. Nick

    so fun i love science live 😀

    Reply
  136. Kadean

    I love science live.

    Reply
  137. Bayanne

    I love R -51

    Reply
  138. Olivia

    Science Live is the best!

    Reply
  139. Jaxon

    see you this Wednesday!

    Reply
  140. Ayala

    this is crazy. i can not wait for the next weeks

    Reply
  141. Keaton

    Very Interesting!

    Reply
  142. Cosimo

    it was very cool learning about how Dr Billings helped improve the eathernet!

    Reply
  143. Mason

    loved the video

    Reply
  144. Nguyen

    how does the ethernet work

    Reply
  145. Oscar

    I didn’t know about Dr. Billings role with Ethernet. I think it’s amazing that he played such a significant part in helping advance Ethernet technology by solving the collision problems. Also, is that Lady Paget Monet in the WideBand ad about the Gigabit Ethernet over Existing Cabling?

    Reply
  146. Scarlett

    I like your video!!

    Reply
  147. Carmelo

    I love this

    Reply
  148. Aidyn

    Great watching.

    Reply
  149. Max

    See science live next week.

    Reply
  150. Sophia

    I’m so glad I got to watch this live this week

    Reply
  151. Eliza

    See you next week !

    Reply
  152. Brooklyn

    i love this video

    Reply
  153. Mason

    Amazing and interesting episode!

    Reply
  154. Oaklee

    Interesting science live, thank you!

    Reply
  155. Lily

    Great video! Would it be ethical to use hampers as part of my science experiment? I’m not using any genetic/DNA stuff, just using phycology.

    Reply
  156. Summer

    I loved learning more about how the Ethernet was created!

    Reply
  157. Emmitt

    Learned about the internet

    Reply
  158. Kalila

    Yay I love it

    Reply
  159. Leonardo

    internet standards are very interesting. thanks for the video!

    Reply
  160. Dalton

    Amazing science see you next week

    Reply
  161. Vivian

    quite interesting to hear on how they made the deaf able to hear, and how computers work, similar in a way to last weeks upload.

    Reply
  162. Wyatt

    very fun to watch

    Reply
  163. Cheyenne

    Amazing video!

    Reply
  164. Jessie

    Loved this video!

    Reply
  165. Corrie

    this is so interesting see you next week

    Reply
  166. Kenneth

    R51 is amazing!!

    Reply
  167. Sawyer

    awesome video I love this

    Reply
  168. Ania-bianca

    Science Live is amazing! Thank you so much!

    Reply
  169. Wyatt

    that is so cool

    Reply
  170. Lylah

    science is cool. learning something new everyday

    Reply
  171. Annahmarie

    Yay we’re going to talk about the Ethernet again!

    Reply
  172. Carina

    science is so cool!!

    Reply
  173. Nolan

    This is amazing . Thank you

    Reply
  174. Aiden

    Excited for this week. Go Acellus!

    Reply
  175. Adriana

    Great episode! I’m already excited for the next one!

    Reply

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