Victor Glushkov
Encyclopedia
Victor Glushkov was the founding father of information technology
in the Soviet Union
(and specifically in Ukraine
), and one of the founders of Cybernetics
.
He was born in Rostov-on-Don
, Russian SFSR, in the family of a mining engineer. He graduated from Rostov State University in 1948, and in 1952 proposed solutions to the Hilbert's fifth problem
and defended his thesis in Moscow State University
.
In 1956 he began working in computer science
and worked in Kiev
as a Director of the Computational Center of the Academy of Science of Ukraine. In 1958 He became a member of the Communist Party
.
He made contributions to the theory of automata. He and his followers (Kapitonova, Letichevskiy and other) successfully applied that theory to enhance construction of computers. His book on that topic "Synthesis of Digital Automata" became well known. For that work, he was awarded the Lenin Prize
in 1964 and elected as a Member of the Academy of Science of USSR
.
He greatly influenced many other fields of theoretical computer science (including the theory of programming and artificial intelligence) as well as its applications in USSR. He published nearly 800 printed works.
One of his great practical goals was the creation of a National Automatized System of Administration of Economy. That very ambitious and probably too early project started in 1962 and received great opposition from many communist leaders. He struggled for his ideas for years but the system won and the project stopped.
Glushkov founded a Kiev-based Chair of Theoretical Cybernetics and Methods of Optimal Control
at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1967 and a Chair of Theoretical Cybernetics at Kiev State University in 1969.
The Institute of Cybernetics of National Academy of Science of Ukraine, which he created, is named after him.
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(and specifically in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
), and one of the founders of Cybernetics
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
.
He was born in Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don
-History:The mouth of the Don River has been of great commercial and cultural importance since the ancient times. It was the site of the Greek colony Tanais, of the Genoese fort Tana, and of the Turkish fortress Azak...
, Russian SFSR, in the family of a mining engineer. He graduated from Rostov State University in 1948, and in 1952 proposed solutions to the Hilbert's fifth problem
Hilbert's fifth problem
Hilbert's fifth problem, is the fifth mathematical problem from the problem-list publicized in 1900 by mathematician David Hilbert, and concerns the characterization of Lie groups. The theory of Lie groups describes continuous symmetry in mathematics; its importance there and in theoretical physics...
and defended his thesis in Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
.
In 1956 he began working in computer science
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 worked in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
as a Director of the Computational Center of the Academy of Science of Ukraine. In 1958 He became a member of the Communist Party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
.
He made contributions to the theory of automata. He and his followers (Kapitonova, Letichevskiy and other) successfully applied that theory to enhance construction of computers. His book on that topic "Synthesis of Digital Automata" became well known. For that work, he was awarded the Lenin Prize
Lenin Prize
The Lenin Prize was one of the most prestigious awards of the USSR, presented to individuals for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was created on June 23, 1925 and was awarded until 1934. During the period from 1935 to 1956, the Lenin Prize was...
in 1964 and elected as a Member of the Academy of Science of USSR
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
.
He greatly influenced many other fields of theoretical computer science (including the theory of programming and artificial intelligence) as well as its applications in USSR. He published nearly 800 printed works.
One of his great practical goals was the creation of a National Automatized System of Administration of Economy. That very ambitious and probably too early project started in 1962 and received great opposition from many communist leaders. He struggled for his ideas for years but the system won and the project stopped.
Glushkov founded a Kiev-based Chair of Theoretical Cybernetics and Methods of Optimal Control
Control theory
Control theory is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and mathematics that deals with the behavior of dynamical systems. The desired output of a system is called the reference...
at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1967 and a Chair of Theoretical Cybernetics at Kiev State University in 1969.
The Institute of Cybernetics of National Academy of Science of Ukraine, which he created, is named after him.
Honors and awards
- Member of the National Academy of Science of UkraineNational Academy of Science of UkraineThe National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is the highest government research body in Ukraine and one of the six state academies. Its presidium is located at 57 Volodymyr Street, across the street from the Building of Pedagogical Museum where used to preside the Central Rada during the...
since 1961. - Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences since 1964.
- Lenin PrizeLenin PrizeThe Lenin Prize was one of the most prestigious awards of the USSR, presented to individuals for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was created on June 23, 1925 and was awarded until 1934. During the period from 1935 to 1956, the Lenin Prize was...
, 1964 - Order of LeninOrder of LeninThe Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
, 1967, 1975 - USSR State PrizeUSSR State PrizeThe USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
, 1968, 1977 - Hero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
, 1969 - Ukrainian State Prize, 1970, 1981
- Order of the October RevolutionOrder of the October RevolutionThe Order of the October Revolution was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil...
, 1973 - Computer Pioneer Award (IEEE), For digital automation of computer architecture, 1996.