John Vincent Atanasoff

John Vincent Atanasoff (October 4,1903 – June 15,1995) was a prominent American computer engineer of Bulgarian origin. His work was instrumental in the development of the digital computer.

Postwar life

Following World War II Atanasoff remained with the government and developed specialized seismographs and microbarographs for long-range explosive detection. In 1952 he founded and led the Ordnance Engineering Corporation. In 1956 he sold his company to Aerojet General Corporation and became its Atlantic Division president. The ABC computer had become just a memory. It was not until 1954 that he first heard rumors that some of his ideas may have been 'borrowed'. (The ENIAC general patent had been applied for in 1947 but was not granted until 1964.) In 1961 Atanasoff started another company, Cybernetics Incorporated. He was only gradually drawn into the legal disputes being contested by the fast growing computer companies. Following the resolution of the patent case Atanasoff was warmly honored by Iowa State College, which had since become Iowa State University, and more awards followed. He retired in Maryland and died in 1995. John Mauchly, Presper Eckert, and their families never admitted any improper conduct.

Related Topics:
World War II - Seismograph - Barograph - 1952 - 1956 - Aerojet General - 1954 - 1947 - 1964 - 1961 - Iowa State University - Maryland - 1995

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