Severo Ornstein
Encyclopedia
Severo M. Ornstein is a retired computer scientist and son of Russian-American composer Leo Ornstein
. In 1955 he joined MIT's Lincoln Laboratory
as a programmer and designer for the SAGE
air-defense system. He later joined the TX-2
group and became a member of the team that designed the LINC
. He moved with the team to Washington University in St. Louis where he was one of the principal designers of macromodules.
Returning to Boston he joined Bolt, Beranek and Newman
. When ARPA
issued a Request for Proposal for the ARPANET
, he joined the group that wrote the winning proposal. He was responsible for the design of the communication interfaces and other special hardware for the Interface Message Processor
. In 1972 he headed the first delegation of U.S. computer scientists to the People's Republic of China
.
In 1976 he joined Xerox PARC
where he implemented a computer interface to an early laser printer
. Later he co-led (with Ed McCreight
) the team that built the Dorado computer.
He designed and oversaw the programming of Mockingbird, the first interactive computer-based music-score editor.
In 1980 he was instrumental in starting Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR
). He wrote an autobiography describing his experiences in computer science, published in 2002.
Leo Ornstein
Leo Ornstein was a leading American experimental composer and pianist of the early twentieth century...
. In 1955 he joined MIT's Lincoln Laboratory
Lincoln Laboratory
MIT Lincoln Laboratory, located in Lexington, Massachusetts, is a United States Department of Defense research and development center chartered to apply advanced technology to problems of national security. Research and development activities focus on long-term technology development as well as...
as a programmer and designer for the SAGE
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
air-defense system. He later joined the TX-2
TX-2
The MIT Lincoln Laboratory TX-2 computer was the successor to the Lincoln TX-0 and was known for its role in advancing both artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction.- Specifications :...
group and became a member of the team that designed the LINC
LINC
The LINC was a 12-bit, 2048-word computer. The LINC can be considered the first minicomputer and a forerunner to the personal computer....
. He moved with the team to Washington University in St. Louis where he was one of the principal designers of macromodules.
Returning to Boston he joined Bolt, Beranek and Newman
BBN Technologies
BBN Technologies is a high-technology company which provides research and development services. BBN is based next to Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA...
. When ARPA
ARPA
Arpa and ARPA may refer to:Arpa* Arpa River in Armenia* Areni, Armenia - formerly called Arpa* Arpi, Armenia, also called Arpa* Turkish for Akhurian River in Turkey and Armenia* Italian for harp, sometimes used in scoresARPA...
issued a Request for Proposal for the ARPANET
ARPANET
The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network , was the world's first operational packet switching network and the core network of a set that came to compose the global Internet...
, he joined the group that wrote the winning proposal. He was responsible for the design of the communication interfaces and other special hardware for the Interface Message Processor
Interface Message Processor
The Interface Message Processor was the packet-switching node used to interconnect participant networks to the ARPANET from the late 1960s to 1989. It was the first generation of gateways, which are known today as routers. An IMP was a ruggedized Honeywell DDP-516 minicomputer with...
. In 1972 he headed the first delegation of U.S. computer scientists to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
In 1976 he joined Xerox PARC
Xerox PARC
PARC , formerly Xerox PARC, is a research and co-development company in Palo Alto, California, with a distinguished reputation for its contributions to information technology and hardware systems....
where he implemented a computer interface to an early laser printer
Laser printer
A laser printer is a common type of computer printer that rapidly produces high quality text and graphics on plain paper. As with digital photocopiers and multifunction printers , laser printers employ a xerographic printing process, but differ from analog photocopiers in that the image is produced...
. Later he co-led (with Ed McCreight
Edward M. McCreight
Edward Meyers McCreight is an American computer scientist. He co-invented the B-tree with Rudolf Bayer while at Boeing,co-designed the Xerox Alto workstation,...
) the team that built the Dorado computer.
He designed and oversaw the programming of Mockingbird, the first interactive computer-based music-score editor.
In 1980 he was instrumental in starting Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR
CPSR
CPSR may refer to:*Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility*Current Program Status Register, an ARM computer processor feature - see Jazelle - CPSR: Mode indication*Canadian Political Science Review*Constant Power Speed Ratio...
). He wrote an autobiography describing his experiences in computer science, published in 2002.
External links
- Oral history interview with Severo Ornstein, Charles Babbage InstituteCharles Babbage InstituteThe Charles Babbage Institute is a research center at the University of Minnesota specializing in the history of information technology, particularly the history since 1935 of digital computing, programming/software, and computer networking....
, University of Minnesota. Ornstein describes his experience at Lincoln Laboratory which included work on the SAGESemi Automatic Ground EnvironmentThe Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
, TX-2TX-2The MIT Lincoln Laboratory TX-2 computer was the successor to the Lincoln TX-0 and was known for its role in advancing both artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction.- Specifications :...
and LINCLINCThe LINC was a 12-bit, 2048-word computer. The LINC can be considered the first minicomputer and a forerunner to the personal computer....
computers. He discusses his move to Washington University, and the later work there on DARPA/IPTO sponsored macromodule project. As the principal hardware designer of the Interface Message ProcessorInterface Message ProcessorThe Interface Message Processor was the packet-switching node used to interconnect participant networks to the ARPANET from the late 1960s to 1989. It was the first generation of gateways, which are known today as routers. An IMP was a ruggedized Honeywell DDP-516 minicomputer with...
(IMP) for the ARPANETARPANETThe Advanced Research Projects Agency Network , was the world's first operational packet switching network and the core network of a set that came to compose the global Internet...
, Ornstein describes the IMP design work at Bolt Beranek and NewmanBBN TechnologiesBBN Technologies is a high-technology company which provides research and development services. BBN is based next to Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA...
(BBN), the working environment of the group at BBN, his relationship with Lawrence RobertsLawrence Roberts (scientist)Lawrence G. Roberts received the Draper Prize in 2001 and the Principe de Asturias Award in 2002 "for the development of the Internet" along with Leonard Kleinrock, Robert Kahn, and Vinton Cerf....
, his interactions with Honeywell, and his work on the Pluribus multi-processor IMP. Ornstein also discusses the contributions of Wesley ClarkWesley A. ClarkWesley Allison Clark is a computer scientist and one of the main participants, along with Charles Molnar, in the creation of the LINC laboratory computer, which was the first mini-computer and shares with a number of other computers the claim to be the inspiration for the personal computer.Clark...
and Norman AbramsonNorman AbramsonNorman Abramson is an American engineer and computer scientist, most known for developing the ALOHAnet system for wireless computer communication....
, his involvement with the Computer Professionals for Social ResponsibilityComputer Professionals for Social ResponsibilityComputer Professionals for Social Responsibility is a global organization promoting the responsible use of computer technology. in 1983 . It educates policymakers and the public on a wide range of issues...
, and his views on artificial intelligence and time-sharing. - Oral history interview with Severo Ornstein and Laura Gould, Charles Babbage InstituteCharles Babbage InstituteThe Charles Babbage Institute is a research center at the University of Minnesota specializing in the history of information technology, particularly the history since 1935 of digital computing, programming/software, and computer networking....
, University of Minnesota. Oral history interview by Bruce Bruemmer, 17 November 1994, Woodside, California, discussing the formation and activities of Computer Professionals for Social ResponsibilityComputer Professionals for Social ResponsibilityComputer Professionals for Social Responsibility is a global organization promoting the responsible use of computer technology. in 1983 . It educates policymakers and the public on a wide range of issues...
. - A Brief History of ARPANET, mentioning Ornstein
- Severo's website on the composer Leo Ornstein, his father