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It is fascinating when a person who grows up with no
exposure to computers and a predisposition towards music and biology becomes
one of the world's most influential pioneers for the field of computing.
After an unlucky beginning in the college scene, Kay joined the Air Force
and discovered an unusual aptitude for computing. He eventually went
on to study mathematics, molecular biology, electrical engineering and
computer science. He was exposed to Ivan Sutherland's revolutionary
"Sketchpad" and began to form ideas of his own about the future of modern
computing. Kay envisioned computers from a biological standpoint,
theorizing that the ideal computer would function like a living organism.
Every computer would function like a "cell"; it could join with other
"cells" to approach a problem or reach a common goal. It is no
coincidence that Kay is one of the founding fathers of "object-oriented
programming" and helped develop "Smalltalk", one of the first
object-oriented languages. Kay is recognized for first envisioning
what we commonly refer to today as a "laptop". Kay's dedication to
education helped him develop the idea of a portable computer that teachers
could use in the classroom to assist children with learning. |
