Jarkko Oikarinen
Encyclopedia
Jarkko Oikarinen is the inventor of the first Internet
chat network, called Internet Relay Chat
(IRC), where he is known as WiZ. While working at the University of Oulu
in August 1988, he wrote the first IRC server
and client
programs, which he produced to replace the MUT (MultiUser Talk) program on the Finnish BBS
OuluBox. Using the Bitnet Relay chat system as inspiration, Oikarinen continued to develop IRC over the next four years, receiving assistance from Darren Reed in co-authoring the IRC Protocol. In 1997, his development of IRC earned Oikarinen a Dvorak Award
for Personal Achievement—Outstanding Global Interactive Personal Communications System; in 2005, the Millennium Technology Prize
Foundation, a Finnish public-private partnership, honored him with one of three Special Recognition Awards.
Having received his Ph.D.
from the University of Oulu
in 1999, in areas of computer graphics
and medical imaging
, his efforts in the latter field focused on telemedicine
, volume rendering
, signal processing
and computed axial tomography. He is also partner and chief software architect at an electronic games developer called Numeric Garden (Espoo, Finland). His earlier positions include Chief Software Architect of Add2Phone Oy (Helsinki, Finland), Head of R&D in Capricode
(Oulu, Finland) and General Manager in Nokia
.
Oikarinen and his wife, Kaija-Leena, were married in 1996 and have three children: Kasper (oldest), Matleena, and Marjaana (youngest).
Oikarinen is currently working for Google
in Sweden
.
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
chat network, called Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels, but also allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer, including file...
(IRC), where he is known as WiZ. While working at the University of Oulu
University of Oulu
The University of Oulu is one of the largest universities in Finland, located in the city of Oulu. It was founded on July 8, 1958. The university has around 16,000 students and 3,000 staff...
in August 1988, he wrote the first IRC server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
and client
Client (computing)
A client is an application or system that accesses a service made available by a server. The server is often on another computer system, in which case the client accesses the service by way of a network....
programs, which he produced to replace the MUT (MultiUser Talk) program on the Finnish BBS
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
OuluBox. Using the Bitnet Relay chat system as inspiration, Oikarinen continued to develop IRC over the next four years, receiving assistance from Darren Reed in co-authoring the IRC Protocol. In 1997, his development of IRC earned Oikarinen a Dvorak Award
Dvorak Awards
The Dvorak Awards for Excellence in Communication were established by computing columnist John C. Dvorak. Ascend Communications was their primary sponsor, but other businesses both inside and outside the computing industry also assumed sponsorship. The awards were given from 1992 through 1997...
for Personal Achievement—Outstanding Global Interactive Personal Communications System; in 2005, the Millennium Technology Prize
Millennium Technology Prize
The Millennium Technology Prize is the largest technology prize in the world. It is awarded once every two years by Technology Academy Finland, an independent fund established by Finnish industry and the Finnish state in partnership. The prize is presented by the President of Finland...
Foundation, a Finnish public-private partnership, honored him with one of three Special Recognition Awards.
Having received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Oulu
University of Oulu
The University of Oulu is one of the largest universities in Finland, located in the city of Oulu. It was founded on July 8, 1958. The university has around 16,000 students and 3,000 staff...
in 1999, in areas of computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
and medical imaging
Medical imaging
Medical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
, his efforts in the latter field focused on telemedicine
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities...
, volume rendering
Volume rendering
In scientific visualization and computer graphics, volume rendering is a set of techniques used to display a 2D projection of a 3D discretely sampled data set.A typical 3D data set is a group of 2D slice images acquired by aCT, MRI, or MicroCT scanner....
, signal processing
Signal processing
Signal processing is an area of systems engineering, electrical engineering and applied mathematics that deals with operations on or analysis of signals, in either discrete or continuous time...
and computed axial tomography. He is also partner and chief software architect at an electronic games developer called Numeric Garden (Espoo, Finland). His earlier positions include Chief Software Architect of Add2Phone Oy (Helsinki, Finland), Head of R&D in Capricode
Capricode
Capricode is a Finnish software company providing solutions to telecommunications software problems. Capricode’s main product is SyncShield, a solution to Mobile device management problems....
(Oulu, Finland) and General Manager in Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
.
Oikarinen and his wife, Kaija-Leena, were married in 1996 and have three children: Kasper (oldest), Matleena, and Marjaana (youngest).
Oikarinen is currently working for Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
External links
- Jarkko Oikarinen's homepage, which features the quote "If it is not logic, it's magic. If it is not magic, it is female logic."
- A history of IRC by Oikarinen at the IRC website
- Numeric Garden's website
- Add2Phone's website