Peter Vogel (computer designer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Vogel is an Australian inventor and technologist. He was born in Sydney on 30 August 1954 and now lives in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney with his wife Lorraine and Jasmine, the youngest of his four daughters, in a very unusual limestone house which he spent 4 years building himself.
Peter has been working in the electronics industry since graduating from high school in 1972. His first major achievement was the development of the world's first commercial sound sampling electronic musical instrument, the Fairlight CMI
. Along with his school friend Kim Ryrie, Peter was co-founder of Fairlight Instruments, the company which made the CMI from 1975 to 1999.
In 1982 Peter designed a medical emergency response device called Vitalcall, which has saved many lives and is still widely used today.
In 1988 Peter started Right Hemisphere Pty Ltd. This took him from the narrow field of sound and vision processing to the wider realm of computers and communications, which had always held a fascination for him. Peter obtained his first patent (for a telephone trunk barring device) at the age of 16 and has been named the inventor on many patents since then.
Around the time of starting Right Hemisphere Peter filed a number of patents for inventions in the television field. In particular, these inventions were directed at making television viewing more enjoyable, for example, by providing an on-screen program guide. His inventions included a device for removing commercials from TV recordings, which decades later brought him into conflict with certain television broadcasters.
In 2003, Peter closed down Right Hemisphere to concentrate on developing IceTV. IceTV provided Australia's first subscription based electronic program guide for television, offering a TiVo-like service including the ability to remotely instruct digital video recorders to record content using mobile phones and internet browsers.
In 2006 IceTV was sued by the Nine Network who alleged that IceTV’s electronic program guide (EPG) breached their copyright. The financial damage caused by the lawsuit resulted in Peter losing his job as Chief Technical Officer of IceTV. He left IceTV in October 2006 and with three other professionals with expertise in technology, media and commerce, started a new consultancy, Vogel Ross Pty Limited.
The Nine Network vs IceTV case was fought all the way to the High Court of Australia, which in 2009 ruled in IceTV’s favour. The decision has been described in legal circles as a significant landmark in Australian copyright law.
In 2009 Peter announced that he will be producing a limited edition remake of the Fairlight CMI to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the first CMIs sold to artists including Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Jean Michel Jarre and other early adopters of sampling technology.
He has been active in environmental campaigns, starting with participation in the blockade of the Franklin River. Peter was also one of the volunteers who established the Life Education Centre at Sydney’s Wayside Chapel in 1979. Today, Life Education's primary schools programs are delivered using more than 90 mobile and static classrooms. Over 750,000 students participate in the program each year.
During the nineties Peter edited and published “Certified Male”, a print magazine devoted to men’s wellbeing. He was also active in local politics in his hometown in the Blue Mountains.
He is also a long-time member of quirky acapella group, the Spooky Men's Chorale.
Peter Vogel’s personal homepage Anerd
History
In his youth Peter was very interested in science, particularly electronics. In the late 1960s he won a number of awards for science research projects.Peter has been working in the electronics industry since graduating from high school in 1972. His first major achievement was the development of the world's first commercial sound sampling electronic musical instrument, the Fairlight CMI
Fairlight CMI
The Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
. Along with his school friend Kim Ryrie, Peter was co-founder of Fairlight Instruments, the company which made the CMI from 1975 to 1999.
In 1982 Peter designed a medical emergency response device called Vitalcall, which has saved many lives and is still widely used today.
In 1988 Peter started Right Hemisphere Pty Ltd. This took him from the narrow field of sound and vision processing to the wider realm of computers and communications, which had always held a fascination for him. Peter obtained his first patent (for a telephone trunk barring device) at the age of 16 and has been named the inventor on many patents since then.
Around the time of starting Right Hemisphere Peter filed a number of patents for inventions in the television field. In particular, these inventions were directed at making television viewing more enjoyable, for example, by providing an on-screen program guide. His inventions included a device for removing commercials from TV recordings, which decades later brought him into conflict with certain television broadcasters.
In 2003, Peter closed down Right Hemisphere to concentrate on developing IceTV. IceTV provided Australia's first subscription based electronic program guide for television, offering a TiVo-like service including the ability to remotely instruct digital video recorders to record content using mobile phones and internet browsers.
In 2006 IceTV was sued by the Nine Network who alleged that IceTV’s electronic program guide (EPG) breached their copyright. The financial damage caused by the lawsuit resulted in Peter losing his job as Chief Technical Officer of IceTV. He left IceTV in October 2006 and with three other professionals with expertise in technology, media and commerce, started a new consultancy, Vogel Ross Pty Limited.
The Nine Network vs IceTV case was fought all the way to the High Court of Australia, which in 2009 ruled in IceTV’s favour. The decision has been described in legal circles as a significant landmark in Australian copyright law.
In 2009 Peter announced that he will be producing a limited edition remake of the Fairlight CMI to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the first CMIs sold to artists including Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Jean Michel Jarre and other early adopters of sampling technology.
Current activities
As well as developing a new Fairlight musical instrument, in 2009 Peter Vogel is also:- Advisor to Living PlanIT, a privately owned Swiss firm, founded and led by specialists in market development, monetisation of intellectual capital and funding of commercial and social ventures. His role is researching, assessing and advising on sustainable technologies.
- Blogger on the Vogel Ross website where he comments on technology, media and business.
- Freelance journalist, having written opinion pieces for newspapers and magazines on subjects ranging from hybrid cars to government R&D policy.
- Technology Consultant to Mallam Lawyers Pty Ltd, a boutique Technology Media and Telecommunications law practice in Sydney, Australia. He advises on the technology-related aspects of legal problems, such as the viability of developing workarounds and left-field solutions to avoid legal disputes or address key issues in commercial agreements.
Social and community activities
As well as his contributions to the arts and technology, Peter has had longstanding involvement in social and environmental causes. In the 70s’-80s he was heavily involved in campaigns which played a significant role in the eventual banning of cigarette advertising in Australia, notably BUGAUP.He has been active in environmental campaigns, starting with participation in the blockade of the Franklin River. Peter was also one of the volunteers who established the Life Education Centre at Sydney’s Wayside Chapel in 1979. Today, Life Education's primary schools programs are delivered using more than 90 mobile and static classrooms. Over 750,000 students participate in the program each year.
During the nineties Peter edited and published “Certified Male”, a print magazine devoted to men’s wellbeing. He was also active in local politics in his hometown in the Blue Mountains.
He is also a long-time member of quirky acapella group, the Spooky Men's Chorale.
External links
- Fairlight Instruments, the company making the new Fairlight CMI
- Vogel Ross Pty Limited
- Fairlight.au, the Australian pro-audio company
Peter Vogel’s personal homepage Anerd