Charles Simonyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Simonyi
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Simonyi in 2006
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| Born | September 10, 1948 |
| Nationality | Hungarian |
| Citizenship | Hungary United States |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley Stanford University |
| Occupation | Software architect |
| Known for | Hungarian notation, space tourism, intentional programming |
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Notable work
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Microsoft Office |
| Spouse(s) |
Lisa Persdotter
(m. 2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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| Space career | |
| Space Adventures tourist | |
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Time in space
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26d 14h 27m |
| Missions | Soyuz TMA-10/TMA-9, Soyuz TMA-14/TMA-13 |
Charles Simonyi (born September 10, 1948) is a Hungarian-American software architect. He is famous for his work at Microsoft and for being a space tourist.
He showed the first graphical user interface to Bill Gates. Gates later called this one of the most important things he had ever seen. Simonyi started and led Microsoft's applications group. Here, he helped create the first versions of Microsoft Office. This includes popular programs like Word and Excel.
Later, he co-founded Intentional Software. This company aimed to develop his idea of intentional programming. Microsoft bought this company in 2017.
In April 2007, Simonyi became the fifth person to travel to space as a tourist. He was also the second Hungarian in space. In March 2009, he made a second trip to the International Space Station.
Contents
Biography
Early life and first steps in computing
Charles Simonyi was born in Budapest, Hungary. His father, Károly Simonyi, was a well-known professor. He taught electrical engineering and even built Hungary's first nuclear particle accelerator.
When Charles was in high school, he worked as a night watchman. He watched over a large mainframe computer at a lab. This was in the early 1960s. He became very interested in computers. An engineer at the lab taught him how to program. By the time he finished school, he could create programs called compilers. He even sold one to the government.
In 2006, he shared his dream from when he was young. He wanted "to get out of Hungary, go to the West and be free."
Moving to the West and early career
At 17, Simonyi left Hungary and did not return. In 1966, he started working in Denmark. He helped develop a minicomputer's control system.
In 1968, he moved to the United States. He studied at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his degree in Engineering Mathematics & Statistics in 1972. He also has honorary degrees from the Juilliard School and a university in Hungary.
Working at Xerox PARC
Simonyi then joined Xerox PARC. This was a very important research center. He worked on the Xerox Alto, one of the first personal computers. He also helped create Bravo. This was the first WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) program. It meant you could see on screen exactly how your document would look when printed.
While at PARC, he earned his PhD in computer science from Stanford University in 1977. His studies focused on a way to manage software projects better. He called this "meta-programming."
In 1997, Simonyi became a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was for his work on popular desktop software. He also joined the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2008.
Time at Microsoft
In 1981, Bill Gates invited Simonyi to Microsoft. Gates wanted him to start a group to create application software. Simonyi built the team that made Microsoft's most successful products. These included Word and Excel.
At Microsoft, Simonyi brought in new ways of programming. He used object-oriented programming ideas from Xerox. He also created the Hungarian notation. This is a system for naming variables in computer code. It was widely used inside Microsoft.
Intentional Software and later work
Simonyi left Microsoft in 2002. He started a new company called Intentional Software. This company focused on his idea of intentional programming. This method helps programmers build software more easily. It lets experts describe what a program should do. Then, an automated system creates the final program.
In 2017, Microsoft bought Intentional Software.
Simonyi holds 11 patents for his inventions.
Giving back: Philanthropy
Charles Simonyi is also known for his generous donations. He has helped fund several important positions at universities. These include:
- The Simonyi Professorship of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University.
- A professorship for Innovation in Teaching at Stanford University.
- A professorship of Mathematical Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
In 2003, he started the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences. This group gave money to art, science, and education organizations. Recipients included the Seattle Symphony and the Seattle Public Library. The foundation closed in 2013.
In 2017, he and his wife Lisa gave $5 million to the University of Washington's Computer Science department. This helped build a new facility.
Political involvement
Simonyi has also supported political campaigns.
Personal life
Simonyi is married to Lisa Persdotter. They got married in 2008 in Sweden. They have two daughters. Simonyi became a citizen of the United States in 1982.
He used to spend half the year on his large super yacht called Skat. He sold it in 2021. As of 2023, he owns another large yacht named NORN.
His home in Medina, Washington, called "Villa Simonyi," is a modern house. He displays his art collection there.
Spaceflights
In 2006, Simonyi decided he wanted to be a space tourist. He signed up for a ten-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS). He passed all the medical tests in Russia. He started training in September 2006.
He launched into space on April 7, 2007. He flew aboard Soyuz TMA-10 with two Russian cosmonauts. He returned to Earth on April 21, 2007.
When he arrived at the ISS, Simonyi said it was "amazing how it appears from the blackness of the sky." He described it like a "big stage set, a fantastic production."
In October 2008, he booked a second trip to the ISS. He launched again on March 26, 2009, aboard Soyuz TMA-14. He returned to Earth on April 8, 2009.
Simonyi became the second Hungarian astronaut. He was also the fifth space tourist. He is the only person in history who paid for two trips to space as a tourist.
Talking from space
Charles Simonyi is a licensed amateur radio operator. He planned to talk to schools from the International Space Station using amateur radio. On April 11, 2007, he was already making radio contacts from space.
He talked to students at Cedar Point Elementary in Virginia. He also spoke with students at the Girls' Middle School in California. He told them that returning to Earth felt strange. The air felt "very thick, very heavy." He said talking to the students "made his day."
Simonyi also used his Hungarian radio call sign, HA5SIK. He contacted 25 radio amateurs from Hungary. He also spoke with students from a polytechnic school in Budapest.
Simonyi supports The Museum of Flight in Seattle. He helped fund the Space Gallery there, which has a NASA Shuttle Trainer.
See also
- Hungarian notation
