C. Robert Wieser

C.Robert Wieser is a person who qualified from MIT as an electrical engineer and later became a developer of electrical and computing technology. He is especially and particularly noted for having contributed to the development of the Cape Cod Air Defense system (Cape Cod Air Force Station) and SAGE system.^[1][2]

Wieser directed the first successful testing of the technology necessary for the creation of an airborne interception system (using radar and computers), which from this embryonic state, would later develop into the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system (SAGE). The SAGE system led to the development of technology known as packet switching, which contributed directly, from being a composite element of technology, to the creation of the ARPANET and ultimately the Internet. ^[3][4][5][6]

Short bio

The following information shows a biographical history of C.Robert Wieser made using three sources:^[1][2][7]

• 1940 - graduated from MIT with a Bachelor in Science in Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Science in the subject Electrical Engineering.
• from 1940 to 1942 - worked for the Boston Edison Company.
• worked for MIT Servornechanisms Laboratory, developing the application of the Whirlwind I to air traffic control and subsequently to air defence usage (circa 1949).
• 1951 - joined the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he was leader of a group developing the Cape Cod Air Defense Direction Center, and involved in the preparation of the operational and mathematical specifications for the SAGE air defence system. Later he was appointed as head, assistant director, and finally as deputy director of the Systems Division.
• 1968 - was employed at the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
• 1971 - appointed as director of the Advanced Weapons Programs within the Douglas Astronautics Company.
• 1982 - vice president and general manager of the Western Division of Physical Dynamics, Inc., RES Operations
• 1985 - Director of Engineering at Science Applications International Corporation (Newport Beach, California).

See also

• Jay Forrester
• J. C. R. Licklider

References

1. J.A.N. Lee (IEEE Computer Society). C. Robert Wieser. IEEE 2013-2015. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
2. Thomas P. Hughes. Rescuing Prometheus: Four Monumental Projects that Changed Our World. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group 5 Jan 2011 (unabridged), 384 pages, ISBN 0307773264. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
3. Kent C. Redmond & Thomas M. Smith. From Whirlwind to MITRE: The R&D Story of the SAGE Air Defense Computer (p.2). MIT Press 2000, ISBN 0262264269. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
4. William Stewart. Paul Baran Invents Packet Switching Living Internet. Living Internet 2000 01 07. Retrieved 2015-08-04.(accessdate also 2015-08-05)
5. John T. Moy - OSPF: Anatomy of an Internet Routing Protocol Addison-Wesley Professional 1998, 339 pages, ISBN 0201634724 [Retrieved 2015-08-05]
6. Living Internet - Packet Switching History (William Stewart 1996 - 2014) [Retrieved 2015-08-06]
7. Computer Museum (Marlborough, Mass.) The Computer Museum Report, Volumes 12-22 published by The Computer Museum, 1985 [Retrieved 2015-08-05]

External links

• Paul N. Edwards - The Closed World: Computers and the Politics of Discourse in Cold War America MIT Press 1997 (reprint, revised) Inside technology, 440 pages, ISBN 0262550288,