Star Wars film wizards honoured

George Lucas is best-known for the Star Wars films

Industrial Light and Magic, the special effects firm behind the Star Wars films, have been honoured by President George Bush.

The firm, founded by George Lucas, was one of seven recipients of the National Medal of Technology.

ILM is nominated for two academy awards for War of the Worlds and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Lucas attended the ceremony at the White House's East Room to receive the medal from the president.

ILM has also worked on recent blockbusters Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and the Chronicles of Riddick.

Light bulb

President Bush praised the American "spirit of discovery".

ILM also worked on The Prisoner of Azkaban

"Our greatest resource has always been the educated, hard-working, ambitious people who call this country their home," he said.

"From Thomas Edison's light bulb to Robert Ledley's CAT scan machine, most of America's revolutionary inventions began with men and women with a vision to see beyond what is and the desire to pursue what might be."

Other technology recipients were:

• Ralph Baer, engineering consultant, for work on interactive video games

• Roger Easton, founder of RoBarCo, for work on spacecraft tracking and navigation

• Gen-Probe for blood testing systems for viruses

• IBM Microelectronics for work on semiconductors

• Motorola for work on mobile phones

• Paccar for work on aerodynamic, lightweight trucks