Christopher Evans (computer scientist)
Encyclopedia
Dr Christopher Riche Evans (29 May 1931 – 10 October 1979) was a British psychologist
, computer scientist
, and author.
, he spent his childhood in Wales and was educated at Christ College, Brecon
(1941–49). He spent two years in the RAF (1950–52), and worked as a science journalist and writer until 1957 when he began a B.A. course in Psychology at University College, London
, graduating with honors in 1960. After a summer fellowship at Duke University, where he first met his future American wife, Nancy Fullmer, he took up a Research Assistant post in the Physics Laboratory, University of Reading
, working on eye movements under Professor R.W. Ditchburn. Upon receiving his PhD (the title of his thesis was “Pattern Perception and the Stabilised Retinal Image”), he went to the Division of Computer Science, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington
in 1964, where he remained until his death of cancer in 1979. He was survived by his wife and two children, Christopher Samuel Evans and Victoria Evans-Theiler.
, The Mighty Micro: The Impact of the Computer Revolution, which included predictions for the future up to the year 2000. This book was also printed in the USA, but called The Micro Millennium (New York: The Viking Press, ISBN 0-670-47400-2). He subsequently scripted and presented for the commercial television
company ATV
a six-part television series based on this book and broadcast posthumously by ITV
between October and December 1979.
His other books include Cults of Unreason
, a study of Scientology
and other perceived pseudoscience
, and Landscapes of the Night: How and Why We Dream.
In the 1970s, Evans undertook a set of interviews with computer pioneers such as Konrad Zuse
and Grace Hopper
. These were released through the Science Museum
, London, as a set of cassette tapes, collectively entitled Pioneers of Computing.
Dr Evans also edited two anthologies of psychological science fiction
/horror
stories, Mind at Bay and Mind in Chains, a collection of science writings, "Cybernetics: Key Papers," a reference book "Psychology: A Dictionary of Mind, Brain and Behaviour," and was a contributing editor to the science magazine Omni
. A passionate flier, and former pilot in the RAF, he also edited a yearly pilot's diary of rural airfields in Great Britain.
During the 1970s Dr Evans was the scientific advisor to the ITV
TV series, The Tomorrow People
.
Dr Evans died of cancer in 1979 at the age of 48, shortly after The Mighty Micro had been published in hardcover.
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, computer scientist
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...
, and author.
Biography
Born in AberdoveyAberdyfi
Aberdyfi , or Aberdovey is a village on the north side of the estuary of the River Dyfi in Gwynedd, on the west coast of Wales....
, he spent his childhood in Wales and was educated at Christ College, Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
(1941–49). He spent two years in the RAF (1950–52), and worked as a science journalist and writer until 1957 when he began a B.A. course in Psychology at University College, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, graduating with honors in 1960. After a summer fellowship at Duke University, where he first met his future American wife, Nancy Fullmer, he took up a Research Assistant post in the Physics Laboratory, University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
, working on eye movements under Professor R.W. Ditchburn. Upon receiving his PhD (the title of his thesis was “Pattern Perception and the Stabilised Retinal Image”), he went to the Division of Computer Science, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington
Teddington
Teddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
in 1964, where he remained until his death of cancer in 1979. He was survived by his wife and two children, Christopher Samuel Evans and Victoria Evans-Theiler.
Works
In 1979, he wrote a book about the oncoming microcomputer revolutionMicrocomputer revolution
The microcomputer revolution is a phrase used to describe the rapid advances of microprocessor-based computers from esoteric hobby projects to a commonplace fixture of homes in industrial societies...
, The Mighty Micro: The Impact of the Computer Revolution, which included predictions for the future up to the year 2000. This book was also printed in the USA, but called The Micro Millennium (New York: The Viking Press, ISBN 0-670-47400-2). He subsequently scripted and presented for the commercial television
Commercial broadcasting
Commercial broadcasting is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship...
company ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
a six-part television series based on this book and broadcast posthumously by ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
between October and December 1979.
His other books include Cults of Unreason
Cults of Unreason
Cults of Unreason is a non-fiction book on Scientology, pseudoscience, and cults, written by Christopher Riche Evans, Ph.D. The book was first published in the UK in 1973 by Harrap and in the USA in 1974 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and then again in paperback in 1975, by Delacorte Press...
, a study of Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
and other perceived pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
, and Landscapes of the Night: How and Why We Dream.
In the 1970s, Evans undertook a set of interviews with computer pioneers such as Konrad Zuse
Konrad Zuse
Konrad Zuse was a German civil engineer and computer pioneer. His greatest achievement was the world's first functional program-controlled Turing-complete computer, the Z3, which became operational in May 1941....
and Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper
Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper was an American computer scientist and United States Navy officer. A pioneer in the field, she was one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer, and developed the first compiler for a computer programming language...
. These were released through the Science Museum
Science museum
A science museum or a science centre is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, industry and industrial machinery, etc. Modern trends in museology have broadened the range of...
, London, as a set of cassette tapes, collectively entitled Pioneers of Computing.
Dr Evans also edited two anthologies of psychological 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...
/horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
stories, Mind at Bay and Mind in Chains, a collection of science writings, "Cybernetics: Key Papers," a reference book "Psychology: A Dictionary of Mind, Brain and Behaviour," and was a contributing editor to the science magazine Omni
Omni (magazine)
OMNI was a science and science fiction magazine published in the US and the UK. It contained articles on science fact and short works of science fiction...
. A passionate flier, and former pilot in the RAF, he also edited a yearly pilot's diary of rural airfields in Great Britain.
During the 1970s Dr Evans was the scientific advisor to the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
TV series, The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer...
.
Dr Evans died of cancer in 1979 at the age of 48, shortly after The Mighty Micro had been published in hardcover.