Jack Kilby is dead at 81.

Jack Kilby, the inventor of the Integrated Circuit and the father of the modern computer, died today from cancer.

kc32 said:

father of the modern computer

Hmm.

How obscure.

He shouldn't be. He made all your Doom machines possible. This should be big news.

I had no idea someone was the father of all computers. I thought IBM invented that.

DooMer87 said:

I had no idea someone was the father of all computers. I thought IBM invented that.

Hmm. Hmm.

Sorry, I was under the impression that Bill Gates made a deal with the devil and did it...

spank said:

Hmm. Hmm.

Err! Err?

Why do I even bother? Slashdot's the only forum that has anything about it, and I can't get a post in edgewise there.

"Father of the modern computer" is such a broad and inexact term. One could just as well claim that e.g. John von Neumann or Alan Turing were (spiritual) fathers of the modern computer.

Modern computers exist today because of the joint efforts of many people. Attributing them to one man is somewhat ridiculous.

Anyway, I'm sad to hear of Mr. Kilby's passing.

I bet this takes up the whole front page of the Tribune tomorrow.

wtf?

If he wanted to be remembered he should have stayed famous.

How about the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics? Is that famous enough for you?

When I say 'stayed' I mean constantly. It's 2005 he is no more than a memory. I don't watch award shows anyway.

I think I would suggest that the invention of the transistor is more important than the invention of the IC.

DC

Kristian Ronge said:

"Father of the modern computer" is such a broad and inexact term. One could just as well claim that e.g. John von Neumann or Alan Turing were (spiritual) fathers of the modern computer.

Modern computers exist today because of the joint efforts of many people. Attributing them to one man is somewhat ridiculous.

Anyway, I'm sad to hear of Mr. Kilby's passing.

Ah!

Well, whatever. I'm going to go see what's going on at Jack Kilby Square here in Great Bend.

Kaiser said:

good riddance

Isn't that heresy at Ti?

Pretty much. And also in Great Bend, Kansas.

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Everyone dies eventually. 81 is above average for a male (and a little above the female average as well)

Senseless posts deleted.

Don't post crap in people's tribute threads if you don't want to annoy me. By all means debate but don't just denegrate.

Thank you.