Jerry Lawson (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Gerald Anderson "Jerry" Lawson (December 1, 1940 – April 9, 2011) was an American
electronic engineer known for his work in designing the Fairchild Channel F
video game console.
During development of the Channel F in the early-mid 1970s, Lawson was Chief Hardware Engineer and director of engineering and marketing for Fairchild Semiconductor's
video game division. He also founded and ran Videosoft, a video game development company which made software for the Atari 2600
in the early 1980s, as the 2600 had displaced the Channel F as the top system in the market.
Lawson was the sole black member of the Homebrew Computer Club
, a group of early computer hobbyists which would produce a number of industry legends, including Apple
founders Steve Jobs
and Steve Wozniak
. Lawson also produced one of the earliest arcade games, Demolition Derby, which debuted in a southern California pizzeria shortly after Pong
. Lawson later worked with the Stanford mentor program and was preparing to write a book on his career.
In March of 2011, Lawson was honored as an industry pioneer by the International Game Developers Association
. One month later, he died of complications from diabetes. At the time of his death, he resided in Santa Clara, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electronic engineer known for his work in designing the Fairchild Channel F
Fairchild Channel F
The Fairchild Channel F is a game console released by Fairchild Semiconductor in August 1976 at the retail price of $169.95. It has the distinction of being the first programmable ROM cartridge-based video game console...
video game console.
During development of the Channel F in the early-mid 1970s, Lawson was Chief Hardware Engineer and director of engineering and marketing for Fairchild Semiconductor's
Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. is an American semiconductor company based in San Jose, California. Founded in 1957, it was a pioneer in transistor and integrated circuit manufacturing...
video game division. He also founded and ran Videosoft, a video game development company which made software for the Atari 2600
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
in the early 1980s, as the 2600 had displaced the Channel F as the top system in the market.
Lawson was the sole black member of the Homebrew Computer Club
Homebrew Computer Club
The Homebrew Computer Club was an early computer hobbyist users' group in Silicon Valley, which met from March 5, 1975 to December 1986...
, a group of early computer hobbyists which would produce a number of industry legends, including Apple
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
founders Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
and Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak
Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne...
. Lawson also produced one of the earliest arcade games, Demolition Derby, which debuted in a southern California pizzeria shortly after Pong
Pong
Pong is one of the earliest arcade video games, and is a tennis sports game featuring simple two-dimensional graphics. While other arcade video games such as Computer Space came before it, Pong was one of the first video games to reach mainstream popularity...
. Lawson later worked with the Stanford mentor program and was preparing to write a book on his career.
In March of 2011, Lawson was honored as an industry pioneer by the International Game Developers Association
International Game Developers Association
International Game Developers Association is the professional society for over 10,000 video and computer game developers worldwide.It is incorporated in the United States as a non-profit organization....
. One month later, he died of complications from diabetes. At the time of his death, he resided in Santa Clara, California.