Harlan Anderson
Encyclopedia
Harlan Anderson is an engineer and entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Digital Equipment Corporation
(DEC) which at one time was the second largest computer company in the world. Other notable entities he has been associated with include Lincoln Laboratory
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, where he was a member of the technical staff. He has also served as director of technology for Time, Inc.
where he spearheaded their evaluation of the future of the printed word during the explosion of television, long before the Internet existed. He participated in early stage financing for over 20 small technology companies. Anderson was a trustee of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for 16 years. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. He is a trustee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Harlan Anderson is the author of the autobiography entitled "Learn, Earn & Return: My Life as a Computer Pioneer."
computer, which was under construction at this time. The courses were taught by the computer pioneer David Wheeler of the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory
. He received a B.S. degree in engineering physics
and a Masters in physics
in 1951 and 1952 respectively.
Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...
(DEC) which at one time was the second largest computer company in the world. Other notable entities he has been associated with include 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...
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where he was a member of the technical staff. He has also served as director of technology for Time, Inc.
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
where he spearheaded their evaluation of the future of the printed word during the explosion of television, long before the Internet existed. He participated in early stage financing for over 20 small technology companies. Anderson was a trustee of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for 16 years. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. He is a trustee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Harlan Anderson is the author of the autobiography entitled "Learn, Earn & Return: My Life as a Computer Pioneer."
Education
Anderson attended the University of Illinois in the early 1950s, where he became interested in computers. He took programming courses for the ILLIAC IILLIAC I
The ILLIAC I , a pioneering computer built in 1952 by the University of Illinois, was the first computer built and owned entirely by a US educational institution, Manchester University UK having built Manchester Mark 1 in 1948.ILLIAC I was based on the Institute for Advanced Study Von Neumann...
computer, which was under construction at this time. The courses were taught by the computer pioneer David Wheeler of the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory
University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory
The Computer Laboratory is the computer science department of the University of Cambridge. As of 2007, it employs 35 academic staff, 25 support staff, 35 affiliated research staff, and about 155 research students...
. He received a B.S. degree in engineering physics
Engineering physics
Engineering physics is the study of the combined disciplines of physics, engineering and mathematics in order to develop an understanding of the interrelationships of these three disciplines. Fundamental physics is combined with problem solving and engineering skills, which then has broad...
and a Masters in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in 1951 and 1952 respectively.
External links
- The Demise of Digital Equipment Corporation: What made the difference at DEC?, from the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
. - The Mouse That Roared: PDP-1 Celebration Event panel, 15 May 2006.
- Locust Press The official site for "Learn, Earn & Return: My Life as a Computer Pioneer" which is Harlan E. Anderson's autobiography.
- Harlan E. Anderson blog The official blog for Harlan E. Anderson.
- "Remembering DEC: Memoir from Co-Founder Harlan Anderson Due Out in November" Boston Globe, October 22, 2009
- "DEC co-founder writes memoirs, traces company's rise and fall" Network World, October 22, 2009
- "A Personal Take on the Rise and Fall of Digital" Boston Globe, October 26, 2009