David J. Farber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David J. Farber
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Farber in 2008
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| Born | April 17, 1934 New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | February 7, 2026 (aged 91) Tokyo, Japan
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| Alma mater | Stevens Institute of Technology |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer science |
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| Doctoral students | Jon Postel, Dave Sincoskie, Marshall Rose, Paul Mockapetris |
David J. Farber (April 17, 1934 – February 7, 2026) was a very important computer scientist. He made huge contributions to programming languages and computer networking. Many people called him the "grandfather of the Internet." He was a distinguished professor at Keio University in Japan.
Contents
The Early Life and Work of David Farber
David Farber was born in New Jersey, U.S., on April 17, 1934. He studied electrical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology. He earned his first degree in 1956. Later, he also received a master's degree in mathematics in 1961.
Working at Bell Labs
After college, Farber worked for 11 years at Bell Laboratories. This was a famous research company. There, he helped create the first electronic telephone switching system, called ESS-1. He also helped develop the SNOBOL programming language. This language was special for handling text and symbols.
Moving to Academia and Industry
After Bell Labs, Farber worked at other companies. These included the Rand Corporation and Scientific Data Systems. He then began teaching at universities. He taught at the University of California, Irvine and the University of Delaware. He also taught at Carnegie Mellon University. In 1999, his old university, Stevens Institute, gave him an honorary doctorate degree.
Building the Internet's Foundations
David Farber's work was key to how the Internet grew. He focused on connecting computers.
Creating Connected Computer Systems
At the University of California, Irvine, Farber led important research. His team worked on the world's first working distributed computer system. This meant many computers could work together. They shared tasks and information.
Shaping Early Internet Networks
While at the University of Delaware, Farber helped organize major research networks. These networks were important steps toward the Internet we use today.
- CSNET: This network connected computer science departments. It allowed researchers to share information.
- NSFNet: This was a major backbone network. It connected many universities and research centers. It became a big part of the early Internet.
- National Research and Education Network (NREN): This project aimed to create an even faster network. It would support advanced research and education.
Farber also helped create the Gigabit Network Test bed Initiative. This project explored very fast internet connections. He led the committee that coordinated this work.
Later Career and Public Service
David Farber continued to influence technology and policy.
Teaching and Public Policy
Farber became a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He taught about telecommunication systems. He also held positions at the Wharton School of Business. There, he taught about business and public policy. He also worked with the Annenberg School for Communication.
From 2000 to 2001, Farber took a break from teaching. He served as the chief technologist for the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC is a government agency. It makes rules for radio, television, and internet communication.
Involvement with Internet Organizations
Farber was a founding editor of ICANNWatch. He also served on the board of advisers for other tech companies. He was one of the first board members of the Internet Systems Consortium. This group helps manage important parts of the Internet's infrastructure. He served on this board since 1994.
Recognitions and Helping Others
David Farber received many honors for his work. He also dedicated time to helping the community.
Awards and Fellowships
Farber was recognized by many important scientific groups:
- He was an AAAS Fellow. This means he was recognized for his scientific achievements.
- He was an IEEE Fellow. This is an honor for electrical and electronics engineers.
- He was an ACM Fellow. This is for achievements in computing.
- In 1995, he received the SIGCOMM Award. This award recognized his lifelong contributions to computer communications.
- In 2018, he was again elected as an AAAS Fellow.
Community Service and Advocacy
Farber served on the board of directors for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. This group works to protect digital rights and privacy. He was also on the advisory board for the Electronic Privacy Information Center. He served on the board of trustees for the Internet Society. This organization promotes the open development and use of the Internet.
He was also a member of a special committee. This committee advised the President on high-performance computing and the Next Generation Internet. Farber also managed a very popular email list called "Interesting-People." It had over 25,000 readers.
Remembering His Son
In 2012, David Farber created a special award. It was called the Joseph M. Farber prize. He established it at the Stevens Institute of Technology. This award honors a graduating student who cares deeply about civil liberties and human rights. It helps remember his son, Joseph M. Farber.
Internet Hall of Fame
On August 3, 2013, David Farber was inducted into the Pioneers Circle of the Internet Hall of Fame. This honor celebrates people who were crucial in the early development of the Internet.
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