Mark Weiser
Encyclopedia
Mark D. Weiser was a chief scientist at Xerox PARC in the United States. Weiser is widely considered to be the father of ubiquitous computing
, a term he coined in 1988.
to David W. Weiser and Audra H. Weiser. He was a descendant of Conrad Weiser
. Weiser entered New College of Florida
in 1970, but did not remain at that institution to graduate. He studied Computer and Communication Science at the University of Michigan
, receiving an M.A.
in 1977 and a Ph.D.
in 1979. He was known to comment that he bypassed the Bachelor's degree on the way to his Ph.D. He then spent eight years teaching computer science
at the University of Maryland, College Park
.
While Weiser worked for a variety of computer related startups
, his seminal work was in the field of ubiquitous computing while leading the computer science laboratory at PARC, which he joined in 1987. His ideas were significantly influenced by his father's reading of Michael Polanyi
's "The Tacit Dimension". He became head of the computer science laboratory in 1988 and chief technology officer in 1996, authoring more than eighty technical publications
.
In addition to working professionally in the field of computer science, Weiser was also the drummer
for Severe Tire Damage
.
In 1999, Weiser was diagnosed with stomach cancer
and given 18 months to live. Weiser died six weeks later, on April 27, 1999. His younger sister, Mona Weiser Holmes (1953 – 1999) predeceased him by three weeks. His surviving sister is Ann Weiser Cornell (b. 1949). He was married to Victoria Reich. His daughters are Nicole Reich-Weiser (b. June 23, 1977) and Corinne Reich-Weiser (b. August 16, 1981).
The Mark D. Weiser Excellence in Computing Scholarship Fund at the University of California, Berkeley
, is awarded to undergraduate computer science students in Weiser's honor. Since 2001, the Association for Computing Machinery
's special interest group in operating systems (SIGOPS) has given the annual Mark Weiser Award to a researcher not more than 20 years into their career who has made "contributions that are highly creative, innovative, and possibly high-risk, in keeping with the visionary spirit of Mark Weiser."
:
In Designing Calm Technology, Weiser and John Seely Brown
describe calm technology as "that which informs but doesn't demand our focus or attention."
Ubiquitous computing
Ubiquitous computing is a post-desktop model of human-computer interaction in which information processing has been thoroughly integrated into everyday objects and activities. In the course of ordinary activities, someone "using" ubiquitous computing engages many computational devices and systems...
, a term he coined in 1988.
Biography
Weiser was born in HarveyHarvey, Illinois
Harvey is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, near Chicago. The population was 30,000 at the 2000 census.Harvey is bordered by Dixmoor, Riverdale and Blue Island to the north, Posen and Markham to the west, South Holland, Phoenix, and Dolton to the east, and East Hazel Crest to the...
to David W. Weiser and Audra H. Weiser. He was a descendant of Conrad Weiser
Conrad Weiser
Weiser's colonial service began in 1731. The Iroquois sent Shikellamy, an Oneida chief, as an emissary to other tribes and the British. Shikellamy lived on the Susquehanna River at Shamokin village, near present-day Sunbury, Pennsylvania. An oral tradition holds that Weiser met Shikellamy while...
. Weiser entered New College of Florida
New College of Florida
New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college located in Sarasota, Florida. It was founded originally as a private institution and is now an autonomous honors college of the State University System of Florida.-History:...
in 1970, but did not remain at that institution to graduate. He studied Computer and Communication Science at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, receiving an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1977 and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1979. He was known to comment that he bypassed the Bachelor's degree on the way to his Ph.D. He then spent eight years teaching computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
While Weiser worked for a variety of computer related startups
Startup company
A startup company or startup is a company with a limited operating history. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets...
, his seminal work was in the field of ubiquitous computing while leading the computer science laboratory at PARC, which he joined in 1987. His ideas were significantly influenced by his father's reading of Michael Polanyi
Michael Polanyi
Michael Polanyi, FRS was a Hungarian–British polymath, who made important theoretical contributions to physical chemistry, economics, and the theory of knowledge...
's "The Tacit Dimension". He became head of the computer science laboratory in 1988 and chief technology officer in 1996, authoring more than eighty technical publications
Academic publishing
Academic publishing describes the subfield of publishing which distributes academic research and scholarship. Most academic work is published in journal article, book or thesis form. The part of academic written output that is not formally published but merely printed up or posted is often called...
.
In addition to working professionally in the field of computer science, Weiser was also the drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for Severe Tire Damage
Severe Tire Damage (band)
Severe Tire Damage is a rock and roll "garage" band from Palo Alto, California.-Uniqueness:Severe Tire Damage was the first band to perform live on the Internet...
.
In 1999, Weiser was diagnosed with stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
and given 18 months to live. Weiser died six weeks later, on April 27, 1999. His younger sister, Mona Weiser Holmes (1953 – 1999) predeceased him by three weeks. His surviving sister is Ann Weiser Cornell (b. 1949). He was married to Victoria Reich. His daughters are Nicole Reich-Weiser (b. June 23, 1977) and Corinne Reich-Weiser (b. August 16, 1981).
The Mark D. Weiser Excellence in Computing Scholarship Fund at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, is awarded to undergraduate computer science students in Weiser's honor. Since 2001, the Association for Computing Machinery
Association for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
's special interest group in operating systems (SIGOPS) has given the annual Mark Weiser Award to a researcher not more than 20 years into their career who has made "contributions that are highly creative, innovative, and possibly high-risk, in keeping with the visionary spirit of Mark Weiser."
Ubiquitous computing and calm technology
During one of his talks, Weiser outlined a set of principles describing ubiquitous computingUbiquitous computing
Ubiquitous computing is a post-desktop model of human-computer interaction in which information processing has been thoroughly integrated into everyday objects and activities. In the course of ordinary activities, someone "using" ubiquitous computing engages many computational devices and systems...
:
- The purpose of a computer is to help you do something else.
- The best computer is a quiet, invisible servant.
- The more you can do by intuition the smarter you are; the computer should extend your unconscious.
- Technology should create calm.
In Designing Calm Technology, Weiser and John Seely Brown
John Seely Brown
John Seely Brown is a researcher who specializes in organizational studies with a particular bent towards the organizational implications of computer-supported activities....
describe calm technology as "that which informs but doesn't demand our focus or attention."
Works
- "The Computer for the 21st Century" - Scientific American Special Issue on Communications, Computers, and NetworksCommunications, Computers, and Networks (Scientific American)The Scientific American special Issue on Communications, Computers, and Network, is a special issue of Scientific American dedicated to articles concerning impending changes to the internet in the period prior to the expansion and mainstreaming of the world wide web via Mosaic and Netscape...
, September, 1991
External links
- Weiser's Home Page
- List of Weiser's Accomplishments
- Tribute Site established at Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...