Black History Month: African Americans who changed the Tech World: James E. West

 I said a hip hop, Hippie to the hippie, The hip hip a hop and you don't stop, a rock it, to the bang bang boogie, say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the booggie the beat.

Now what you hear is not a test - I'm rappin about Black History
And me, the groove, and G Nation are gonna try to educate like the rest
And introduce you the man, simple known as James E. West

See, I am Tech Support, and I'd Like to Say Hello
To the black, to the white, the red and the brown,The purple and yellow.

Without this man you couldn't hear a voice,and along with Gerhard M. Sessler his friend.
They made it possible to rock a mic, and bust a rhyme to no end.

Ok, I'm done...

James E. West along with his colleague, Gerhad Sessler, developed the mic or the Electroacoustic Transducer electret Microphone; which they got a patent for in 1962 while working at Bell.  It was small, lightweight, cost effective, acoustical accuracy and high performance and is used in 90% of microphones today.   This tech is also found in telephones, tape recorders, camcorders, baby monitors, and even hearing aids!  West owns over 250 patents on microphones and other related discoveries involving polymer-foil electrets.  So, thanks to him G Nation can rock the mike, bringing you shows and entertainment!

In 1997 West was appointed president-elect of the Acoustical Society and joined the National Academe of Engineering in 1998.  In 1999, he and Sessler were inducted into the Nation Inventors Hall of Fame.  West encourage to get African American Women and students to pursue careers in science and technology.  Not only was West an inventor but he is also a published author and contribute to a number of scientific books and papers.  West went on to retire from Bell in 2001 and joined Johns Hopkins as a research professor at the school's Whiting School of Engineering in the electrical/computer engineering department; where he serves to this day.


Black History Month may be coming to end but it can be talked about and researched everyday of they year.

Know Your History

Black History Month: African Americans who changed the Tech World: Roy L. Clay Sr.

 

 

 

 Roy L. Clay Sr.

The black godfather of Silicon Valley 

Computer Programmer, Entrepreneur

Many of you may have heard of Hewlett-Packard or HP.  The company that is known for its printers and Personal Computers.  Well, meet Roy L. Clay Sr. the man who built HP's first marketed computer.  Clay started out as a school teacher after in 1951 he received his degree in Mathematics from St. Louis University.  In 1956, Clay got a job programming IBM and Burroughs computers in the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (now McDonnell Douglass).  At the time, teaching school was about the best job an African American could get.  Back in those days Universities didn't offer Computer Science degrees so Mathematics graduates were hired for programing and software development. In 1958, Clay went on to work as a computer programmer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he wrote software that demonstrated how radiation particles would spread after a above ground nuclear explosions and then in 1962 he worked as a software engineer for Control Data Corporation where he developed software languages for Control Data computers.

It was in 1965 when Roy Clay got a position as the software development manager and lead developer for the HP 2116A; HP's first marketed computer, the first mini-computer and it was the second 16-bit computer to hit the market after Honeywell's DDP-116. Not only did he lead the team that created the computer he also wrote the software that ran it.  Unlike other computers at the time that filled up a whole room, the HP 2116A was about the size of a small under-the-counter refrigerator.  The first HP-2116 was bought by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and was used aboard a research vessel.  Even in the harsh conditions of being on a ship like salt in the air and constant temperature changes, the computer lasted more than 10 years!

 

Clay became the first director of the HP Research and Development Computer group that worked to promote HP's computer division.  He wanted an environment that would promote creativity so his workers day began with a round of golf at daybreak and at 9:00 a.m. they came into to HP and stayed until the work was done. Wonder if he would let me start the day off with a round of Call of Duty on Xbox?   Ok, anyway, with his positions at HP, he helped other minorities have successful careers in the tech industry.  He broke down barriers for African Americans in technology by recruiting and developing talent and paving the way for the next generation of black technology innovators giving him the monarch, the black godfather of Silicon Valley.

The black godfather of Silicon Valley's guidance lead to the initial funding of popular Computer companies like Intel, Compaq, Tandem and many other successes in Silicon valley.  Along with helping those companies Clay started his on company Rod-L Electronic the hipot and electrical-safety test equipment manufacturer; named by his wife after their two sons.  Here he invented the first electronic equipment safety testing device to be certified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL).  In the mid 1970's Clay learned that UL was going to require electrical safety tests on electrical products to make sure that they would not shock or cause a fire.  The ROD-L tester was placed at the end of HP, IBM, AT&T and Xerox production lines.  The tester is still the standard to this day.  Look at the back of your computer, you can see the UL safety sticker and information.  Not only computers but the tester is used on everything from dishwashers to pacemakers.  Clay is still the CEO of ROD-L.  Check out the company website here!

 On top of all this he has been a vital part of his community.  In honor of his wife he founded the Virginia Clay / Unity Care Annual Golf classic to promote the success for young minorities.  Proceeds fund the Unity Care Groups Pre-College Minority Engineering program that encourages minorities to build technology projects.  He also lead the Girls' Club of the Mid Peninsula tht helps girls reach their full potential and JobTrain that helps take personal motivations into marketable skills that make higher self-sufficiency and self Esteem.  Also, he was the first non-Caucasian to serve on the Palo Alto City Council and he was the first African American Vice Mayor from 1976-1977.

 I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse.... Know Your History

Black History Month: African Americans who changed the Tech....No Shoe World: Jan Matzeliger

One thing that I have never been able to understand is women's obsession with shoes.  I know some ladies that have a pair of shoes for every hour of the day, women that have a room dedicated to the the hundreds of shoes they own.  They even have their own bartering system where they trade and rent out to each other while still keeping the online shoe vendors in business.  I know I have been giving African American's who have changed the tech world, but with the ladies I know, I couldn't pass up this up.

So, who is one of the people we can thank for this? Jan Matzeliger.  If it wasn't for him women all over the world wouldn't have the closets and rooms fool of shoes that they have now.  (Yes, some fellas too)  In 1883 Matzeliger received a patent for his machine that could produce 150 to 700 pairs of shoes a day, cutting shoe prices across the nation in half.   You see before no machine could attach the upper part of a shoe to the sole and it had to be done by hand; so only 50 pairs of shoes could be made in a 10 hour day. His invention was the greatest step forward in the shoe industry.  Because of the color of his skin; he wasn't recognized for his accomplishments till much later. On September 15, 1991 he was honored on a postage stamp.  Matzeliger worked
exhausting hours on his machine.  He didn't eat for long periods of time and he then got tuberculosis.  He died at the age of 37 on August 24, 1887, so he never got to see the full profit of his invention.

Wow, so ladies next time your own shoe dazzle remember Jan Matzeliger.  Yeah, yeah before yall jump on me, fellas too, even though personally all I need is a few pair of shoes to get through life, ha.
Sorry, I will never understand, lol.

Know Your history.

Black History Month: African Americans who changed the Tech World: Marc Hannah

Tech here to present you with another African American innovator who changed the IT...Movie World!

Marc Hannah

Born October 13, 1956
Electrical Engineer, Computer Graphics Designer





Where you amazed at the special affects you saw in Jurassic Park or Terminator 2? What about  what you saw in The Hunt for Red October or Field of Dreams?  How about the CGI you saw in such cartoons as Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast? Well meet Marc Hannah, the man behind the  computers and programs Personal IRIS, Indigo 1 and 2, and Indy Graphics which were used to make not only these movies along with many others, but television commercials as well.  For example, the helmets in the intro graphics you see when tuning into Monday Night Football.  

Hannah invented the Geometry Engine, which is the computer chip that allows an image on screen to be rotated in three dimensions!  He started the project with his instructor Jim Clark.  In 1982, they took the chip and along with five others they founded Silicon Graphics which is now known as SGI.
 In1986, he was named the company's principal scientist for the programs he developed. SGI computers have cameo-ed in many movies just like its graphics have been. SGI effects can be seen in Michael Jackson's videos Black and White and Remember the time!  The same technology has also been used for military applications and training.

And did you own a Nintendo 64?   Well Marc Hannah was also instrumental in its development.  Remember those commercials that talked abut the advanced 3D graphics of the system?  You got to see good ol Mario run around in the large 3D world and Donkey and Diddy Kong platform their way through 3d backgrounds.  Well the Nintendo 64 was basically one of SGI's low end computers crammed into a home video game system.

Marc Hannah has been dubbed the Special Effects Whiz over his career at SGI. Besides SGI, He has also helped and consulted with other companies like Universe Digital Solutions and Pulsent. He is even partial owner of a construction company.  Hannah is the recipient of 13 patents and many other wards and honors.

Know Your History.

Black History Month: African Americans who changed the Tech World: Mark Dean

I want to present you with another African American who has changed the world of technology

Mark Dean

African American inventor and Computer Scientist and Engineer
Birthday:  March 2, 1957




Let me introduce you to Mark Dean, a man credited to launching the modern Computer Age!  How you may ask? After college Dean started to work at IBM where he is still associated with today. 

First, along with Dennis Moeller, Dean developed the ISA or Industry Standard Architecture!  Ok, right now you may be asking what is that?  This is the system that allows you to plug peripheral devices disk drives, printers, and monitors to your computer! 
 Speaking of monitors, Dean's work lead to the creation of the color PC monitor!  That's right if your are looking at a monitor right now you can thank Mark Dean.

Oh and that is not all, in 1999 he lead a team of engineers at IBM's Austin, Texas lab to create the first gigahertz chip! The processor chip or CPU is basically the brain of the computer and its clock speed is generally used to determine the overall speed which is measured in hertz. Hertz is a measure of frequency in cycles per second. 1 gigahertz equals one billion cycles per second!  Thanks to Dean, the home PC became a lot faster and smarter.

Dean also holds three out of the nine original patents at IBM and his name is associated with 20 other patents.  IN 1996, he was the first African American to be named an IBM Fellow and a year later he was honed with the Black Engineer of the Year President's Award and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Its Funny, the man responsible for the modern day personal computer; the desktop. Now says that he only uses tablets.  He said "When I helped design the PC, I didn't think I'd live long enough to witness its decline,"

Know Your History.

Tax Season

That’s right It's tax season! If you have received you W2 why not go ahead and fill out your taxes online?  Websites like H&R Block and Tax Act or programs/sites like Turbotax  make it easy by guiding you step by step. Even if you don’t feel comfortable filing, go ahead and try one of these out.  You may be seeing those commercials now saying people who file themselves on line are missing out or loosing thousands of dollars. Of course the major tax filers will say this because they have lost money and customers ever since programs and on line filing became available. No matter how you feel you can still try it out.  You can fill about both federal and state for free and instantly see an estimated return or… how much you owe.  And if you decide to file, your federal will be free and/or pay a small fee to file your state.

If you use H&R Block and you fill it out online and still are unsure about your results,  you can still go to your local H&R Office and they can bring up what you have done check everything and file for you.

Each of these sites have different levels where you can pay to get more features and help.  You can try out each level you will only have to pay is if you actually file.

So go ahead and give it a try.  The IRS began processing returns on January 31st, so the quicker you file the faster you will get your return. Electronic filing is the fastest way to get your return (couple of weeks).

Black History Month: African Americans who changed the Tech World: Gerald A. Lawson

What's Up, G Nation, I couldn't let CB have all the fun with presenting you with Black History Facts.  So for the rest of the month, I would like to introduce you to some African American's who changed the world of technology; those who paved the way for yours truly. :)
So let's start with, Gerald A. Lawson

GERALD A. LAWSON

Do you own any of the X box, PlayStation, or Nintendo systems? Or have you every played on a friends?  Do you call yourself a gamer? Well, you can thank Gerald A. Lawson, a self taught engineer who created the first home video game system with interchangeable parts!!  That's right, gamers, his work paved the way for Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation. 

 It all started in 1976 with the Fairchild Channel F Home Entertainment System that became the bases for modern systems.  Lawson was the director of engineering and marketing for Fairchild Semiconductor, where Apple's Computer's co-found Mike Markula had headed Marketing.  Lawson also founded and rand Videosoft, a video game development company that made software for the Atari 2600.  He also made one of the earliest arcade games, Demolition Derby, which debuted not to long after Pong.


 In the 1970s he joined the Silicon Valley's Homebrew Computer club where at the time he was the only black member.  While he was with the club he met Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.  Lawson was born December 1, 1940 and died April 9, 2011.  It was until March 2011, that Lawson was honored as an industry pioneer by the International Game Developers Association shortly before his death.