An Amateur Computerist Corner

Jay's Page

A while back I was working on a biography of John Kemeny. I posted on some Usenet newsgroups a request for anecdotes and sources for my biography. In response, I received by email some wonderful stories about Kemeny and some references where he was mentioned. These very much improved the biography I was writing. Recently it was reprinted in the compilation Computer Pioneers edited by J.A.N. Lee and published by the IEEE Computer Society Press.

I have also done some beginning work on a biography of J.C.R. Licklider whose vision and constant activity very much set the foundation for the global computer telecommunications network of today. Sadly, Licklider died in 1990 and so far no solid biography has been written to honor him and to tell the important story of the role he played establishing the field of academic computer science and of his vision for man-computer symbiosis and a global communications network. I would very much like to hear anecdotes, significant stories and memories of `Lick'. Any pointers concerning J.C.R. Licklider, his years in St. Louis, his work at Harvard, MIT, the Acoustical Society of America, BBN, IBM, ARPA, Project MAC, and after would be helpful.

Thanks.

 
Jay Hauben                                       [email protected]
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"...If the network idea should prove to do for education which a 
few have envisioned . . . and if all minds should prove to be 
responsive, surely the boon to humankind would be beyond measure."
                                   J.C.R. Licklider and Robert Taylor
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