Walter Isaacson, author of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life and president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, opened the Lemelson Center's fall symposium by examining the history of communications technology in democracy. The 2 November 2006 program at the National Archives featured Isaacson and Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States.

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"Prototype Online: Inventive Voices" is a production of the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center. Written and hosted by Paul Rosenthal. Audio production by Benjamin Bloom. Theme music by Will Eastman. Art Molella, executive producer. Walter Isaacson and Allen Weinstein originally spoke on 2 November 2006 at the National Archives as part of the Lemelson Center's fall symposium. This podcast released 25 January 2007.