Dick Smith (software)
Encyclopedia
Dick Smith is a Chicago, Illinois-based software engineer
, computer consultant and a science fiction
fanzine
publisher.
, Smith, with his wife, Leah Zeldes Smith, was 1993 winner of the Down Under Fan Fund
and delegate to Swancon 18, the Australian National Science Fiction Convention
in Perth, Australia
, as well as to fan centers throughout the country. He has been selected as fan guest of honor by numerous science fiction conventions, including Windycon
(1995), ArmadilloCon
(1995), First Contact (1998), ConQuesT
(2000), Whatcon (1985) and Corflu (1991), and has been a toastmaster at such conventions as ConFusion and a frequent speaker and panelist on subjects related to fandom, fan publishing, science fiction and technology.
The Smiths' fanzine STET
was a three-time Hugo Award
nominee. In the 1980s, Smith published the Hogu Award-winning title, Uncle Dick's Little Thing. He was extensively active in numerous amateur press association
s during the 1970s and '80s, including the Fantasy Amateur Press Association
and The Cult. He co-founded Windyapa. He was a recipient of the Peter J. Vorzimer Award.
Smith and his wife organized ditto, a fanzine convention, in 1990 and 2001, and have worked on many Worldcon
s and other science fiction conventions. They were the U.S. agents who spearheaded bidding efforts for Aussiecon Three
, and he was appointed Ausssiecon's representative to the World Science Fiction Society's Mark Protection Committee. Smith is a member of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society
, the Cincinnati Fantasy Group and General Technics.
Smith is known within fandom for his interest in and collection of antique printing techniques and devices, such as hectograph
s, letterpresses, spirit duplicator
s, mimeographs and obsolete computers.
, U.S. Robotics
and 3Com
.
In his professional work, Smith contributes to science fiction, serving as a consultant
to such authors as Frederik Pohl
and Mike Resnick
. He is an expert on legacy systems.
Smith was one of the inventors of a "Method and protocol for connecting data calls using R2 signaling" granted U.S. Patent 6,233,237 in 2001. He contributed to the textbook LAN Times Guide to Telephony (Osborne/McGraw-Hill).
and reared in West Bend, Wisconsin
, the eldest son of Richard H.E. Smith and Marilyn R.J. Smith. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin.
He has been married to Leah Zeldes Smith since 1985; an incident at their wedding inspired Mike Resnick's novel The Dark Lady.
Software engineer
A software engineer is an engineer who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers or anything containing software, such as computer chips, work.- Overview :...
, computer consultant and a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
fanzine
Science fiction fanzine
A science fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day...
publisher.
Science fiction fandom
As a science fiction fanScience fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
, Smith, with his wife, Leah Zeldes Smith, was 1993 winner of the Down Under Fan Fund
Down Under Fan Fund
The Down Under Fan Fund, also known as DUFF, was created in 1970 for the purpose of providing funds to bring well-known and popular members of science fiction fandom familiar to fans on both sides of the Pacific ocean.-History:...
and delegate to Swancon 18, the Australian National Science Fiction Convention
Australian National Science Fiction Convention
The Australian National Science Fiction Convention or Natcon is a science fiction convention that is scheduled each year usually at Easter....
in Perth, Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, as well as to fan centers throughout the country. He has been selected as fan guest of honor by numerous science fiction conventions, including Windycon
Windycon
Windycon is a science fiction convention currently held in Lombard, Illinois, on the weekend closest to Veterans Day.ISFiC, the parent corporation that runs Windycon, was founded in 1973 in Chicago. The first Windycon was held the following year and has been held annually ever since either in...
(1995), ArmadilloCon
ArmadilloCon
ArmadilloCon is a science fiction convention held annually in Austin, Texas, USA, since 1979. As the second longest running science fiction convention in Texas, it is sponsored by the Fandom Association of Central Texas and is known for its emphasis on literary science fiction...
(1995), First Contact (1998), ConQuesT
ConQuesT
ConQuesT is an annual science fiction convention held in the Kansas City, Missouri area; it is sponsored by the long-running Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society and is the oldest such convention in Missouri, having first been established under a different name back in the summer of 1972...
(2000), Whatcon (1985) and Corflu (1991), and has been a toastmaster at such conventions as ConFusion and a frequent speaker and panelist on subjects related to fandom, fan publishing, science fiction and technology.
The Smiths' fanzine STET
STET (fanzine)
STET is a science fiction fanzine, which has been published intermittently from Wheeling, Illinois by the married couple Leah Zeldes Smith and Dick Smith since the early 1990s...
was a three-time Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
nominee. In the 1980s, Smith published the Hogu Award-winning title, Uncle Dick's Little Thing. He was extensively active in numerous amateur press association
Amateur press association
An amateur press association is a group of people who produce individual pages or magazines that are sent to a Central Mailer for collation and distribution to all members of the group.-Organisation:...
s during the 1970s and '80s, including the Fantasy Amateur Press Association
Fantasy Amateur Press Association
The Fantasy Amateur Press Association or FAPA is science fiction fandom's longest-established amateur press association . It was founded in 1937 by Donald A. Wollheim and John Michel. They were inspired to create FAPA by their memberships in some of the non-science fiction amateur press...
and The Cult. He co-founded Windyapa. He was a recipient of the Peter J. Vorzimer Award.
Smith and his wife organized ditto, a fanzine convention, in 1990 and 2001, and have worked on many Worldcon
Worldcon
Worldcon, or more formally The World Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention held each year since 1939 . It is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society...
s and other science fiction conventions. They were the U.S. agents who spearheaded bidding efforts for Aussiecon Three
57th World Science Fiction Convention
Aussiecon Three was the 57th World Science Fiction Convention, held in Melbourne, Australia on 2–6 September 1999. The convention was held in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.-Guests of honour:* Gregory Benford, author...
, and he was appointed Ausssiecon's representative to the World Science Fiction Society's Mark Protection Committee. Smith is a member of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society
Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society
The Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, Inc., or LASFS is a science fiction society with its headquarters in Van Nuys, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Van Nuys is located in the San Fernado Valley, north of Los Angeles...
, the Cincinnati Fantasy Group and General Technics.
Smith is known within fandom for his interest in and collection of antique printing techniques and devices, such as hectograph
Hectograph
The hectograph or gelatin duplicator or jellygraph is a printing process which involves transfer of an original, prepared with special inks, to a pan of gelatin or a gelatin pad pulled tight on a metal frame.-Process:...
s, letterpresses, spirit duplicator
Spirit duplicator
A spirit duplicator was a low-volume printing method used mainly by schools and churches. It was also used by members of science fiction fandom and early comic book fandom to produce fanzines...
s, mimeographs and obsolete computers.
Personal and professional life
Smith is founder and president of Dick Smith Software, a comprehensive computer consulting firm in the Chicago area. Prior to that, he developed software for such companies as Northrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
, U.S. Robotics
U.S. Robotics
USRobotics Corporation is a company that makes computer modems and related products. It sold high-speed modems in the 1980s, and had a reputation for high quality and compatibility. With the reduced usage of voiceband modems in North America in the early 21st century, USR is now one of the few...
and 3Com
3Com
3Com was a pioneering digital electronics manufacturer best known for its computer network infrastructure products. The company was co-founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe, Howard Charney, Bruce Borden, and Greg Shaw...
.
In his professional work, Smith contributes to science fiction, serving as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
to such authors as Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
and Mike Resnick
Mike Resnick
Michael Diamond Resnick , better known by his published name Mike Resnick, is an American science fiction author. He was executive editor of Jim Baen's Universe.-Biography:...
. He is an expert on legacy systems.
Smith was one of the inventors of a "Method and protocol for connecting data calls using R2 signaling" granted U.S. Patent 6,233,237 in 2001. He contributed to the textbook LAN Times Guide to Telephony (Osborne/McGraw-Hill).
Personal life
Smith was born in MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and reared in West Bend, Wisconsin
West Bend, Wisconsin
West Bend is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Wisconsin, United States in southeastern Wisconsin. The population was estimated to be 29,894 in 2008...
, the eldest son of Richard H.E. Smith and Marilyn R.J. Smith. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin.
He has been married to Leah Zeldes Smith since 1985; an incident at their wedding inspired Mike Resnick's novel The Dark Lady.