David Potter
Encyclopedia
David Edwin Potter, CBE
, FREng
(born 1943) is the founder and chairman of the microcomputer systems company Psion PLC., and Psion Teklogix
after Psion's acquisition of Teklogix
in the year 2000.
. In 1963 he took up a Beit scholarship to read Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge
. In 1966 he was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to study for a doctorate in mathematical physics at Imperial College London
where he was subsequently appointed to the staff. As an academic during the 1970s he taught at the University of London
and at the University of California
, consulted and wrote a number of academic papers and a book on the use of computers in physics.
, used actual physical algorithms that were probably simplified versions of those Potter had devised professionally.
In 1984 using radical technology, Psion invented ‘The Organiser’, the world’s first volume hand-held computers for personal use and information. Over the next sixteen years and through many product introductions, Psion led the creation of the Organiser, Palmtop and PDA markets as a new market segment.
In 1988, David led Psion’s flotation on the London Stock Exchange
and saw Psion’s scale and value multiply many times. The Company expanded further into data-communications and mobile corporate solutions. In 1998, using Psion’s talented team and experience in small mobile operating systems, David led the creation of Symbian Limited in partnership with Nokia
, Ericsson
, Motorola
and Matsushita to create the operating system standard for mobile wireless devices - now known as Symbian
.
In 1999, Potter stood down as Chief Executive of the Company and assumed the role of Chairman, and retired as Chairman in September 2009.
, a Board member of the London First Centre and co-Chairman of the London Manufacturing Group. David served on the 1997 National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (The Dearing Committee
) and continued his involvement in higher education policy as a Board Member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. From 1999 to 2003 he was a member of The Council for Science and Technology reporting to the Cabinet. Potter has also had extensive involvement with educational establishments as a Visiting Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford
, Honorary Fellow of Imperial College, London and Honorary Fellow and Governor of The London Business School
. In 1993 he received the Mountbatten Medal
from the Institute of Electrical Engineers and has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from a number of universities including Warwick, Sheffield, Edinburgh and York. He has written and lectured widely on technology and the new economy, including the Stockton Lecture at London Business School
in 1998, one of the Millennium Lectures at 10 Downing Street in 1999, and the Tacitus Lecture, 2000 at the Guildhall.
, stepping down in 2009.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FREng
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
(born 1943) is the founder and chairman of the microcomputer systems company Psion PLC., and Psion Teklogix
Psion Teklogix
Psion Teklogix Inc. is the operational business of Psion, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.Psion Teklogix is a global provider of solutions for mobile computing and wireless data collection...
after Psion's acquisition of Teklogix
Teklogix
-About The Company:Teklogix was created in 1967 by Lawrence Cragg together with a small group of engineers.The company focused on mini computer applications. It designed and built complete systems based upon DEC's PDP-8 computer, DEC's logic modules and purpose built logic...
in the year 2000.
Early life
Potter was born in East London, South Africa in 1943 and brought up in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. In 1963 he took up a Beit scholarship to read Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. In 1966 he was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to study for a doctorate in mathematical physics at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
where he was subsequently appointed to the staff. As an academic during the 1970s he taught at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, consulted and wrote a number of academic papers and a book on the use of computers in physics.
Career at Psion
Potter founded Psion in 1980. In its early years, Psion became a leader in software for home microcomputers. Notably, Psion's first real success, a flight simulation game for the ZX SpectrumZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, used actual physical algorithms that were probably simplified versions of those Potter had devised professionally.
In 1984 using radical technology, Psion invented ‘The Organiser’, the world’s first volume hand-held computers for personal use and information. Over the next sixteen years and through many product introductions, Psion led the creation of the Organiser, Palmtop and PDA markets as a new market segment.
In 1988, David led Psion’s flotation on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and saw Psion’s scale and value multiply many times. The Company expanded further into data-communications and mobile corporate solutions. In 1998, using Psion’s talented team and experience in small mobile operating systems, David led the creation of Symbian Limited in partnership with Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
, Ericsson
Ericsson
Ericsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
, Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
and Matsushita to create the operating system standard for mobile wireless devices - now known as Symbian
Symbian
Symbian is a mobile operating system and computing platform designed for smartphones and currently maintained by Accenture. The Symbian platform is the successor to Symbian OS and Nokia Series 60; unlike Symbian OS, which needed an additional user interface system, Symbian includes a user...
.
In 1999, Potter stood down as Chief Executive of the Company and assumed the role of Chairman, and retired as Chairman in September 2009.
Other activities
Potter has been a member of the London Regional Council of the CBIConfederation of British Industry
The Confederation of British Industry is a British not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal charter which promotes the interests of its members, some 200,000 British businesses, a figure which includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies and around 50% of FTSE 350 companies.-Role:The CBI works...
, a Board member of the London First Centre and co-Chairman of the London Manufacturing Group. David served on the 1997 National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (The Dearing Committee
Dearing Report
The Dearing Report, formally known as the reports of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education is a series of major reports into the future of Higher Education in the United Kingdom, published in 1997. The report was commissioned by the UK government and was the largest review of...
) and continued his involvement in higher education policy as a Board Member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. From 1999 to 2003 he was a member of The Council for Science and Technology reporting to the Cabinet. Potter has also had extensive involvement with educational establishments as a Visiting Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
, Honorary Fellow of Imperial College, London and Honorary Fellow and Governor of The London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
. In 1993 he received the Mountbatten Medal
Mountbatten Medal
The Mountbatten Medal is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution, or contributions over a period, to the promotion of electronics or information technology and their application....
from the Institute of Electrical Engineers and has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from a number of universities including Warwick, Sheffield, Edinburgh and York. He has written and lectured widely on technology and the new economy, including the Stockton Lecture at London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
in 1998, one of the Millennium Lectures at 10 Downing Street in 1999, and the Tacitus Lecture, 2000 at the Guildhall.
Honours
In the 1997 New Year’s Honours list, David was awarded the CBE for services to the manufacturing industry and in 2001 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers. In 1999, David Potter was chosen as Entrepreneur of the Year in the annual UK PLC Awards. In June 2003, David was appointed a non-Executive Director to the Bank of EnglandBank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, stepping down in 2009.