James Martin (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Martin
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| Born | 19 October 1933 |
| Died | 24 June 2013 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | English |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford (BA) |
| Known for |
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| Awards | Turing Lecture (2008) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer science, Information technology engineering |
| Institutions | IBM |
James Martin (born October 19, 1933 – died June 24, 2013) was a famous English expert in information technology. He was also a well-known author. He is remembered for his important work in information technology engineering.
Contents
A Life in Technology
James Martin was born in a town called Ashby-de-la-Zouch in England. This was on October 19, 1933. He went to Keble College, Oxford and studied physics there.
In 1959, James Martin started working for IBM. This was a very big computer company. Later, in the 1980s, he started his own companies. These companies helped other businesses with their computer systems. One of his companies, James Martin Associates (JMA), later became part of Texas Instruments Software. He also helped start Database Design Inc. (DDI). This company created tools to help design computer databases. DDI later became a leader in software for information technology engineering.
James Martin received many honors for his work. He was given a special award from Keble College, Oxford. He also got an honorary degree from the University of Warwick. In 2008, he gave the important Turing Lecture. This is a big deal in the world of computer science. He was even ranked as one of the 25 people who most influenced computer science.
Living on an Island
From the 1990s, James Martin lived on his own private island. It was called Agar's Island in Bermuda. He passed away there on June 24, 2013.
His Big Ideas
James Martin was an expert in many areas of computing. He knew a lot about how to design computer systems. He also worked on how to develop software. He was a pioneer in information technology engineering. He also helped create computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools. He was one of the first to promote new ways of programming. He also helped develop Rapid Application Development.
What is Information Technology Engineering?
Information technology engineering (ITE) is a way to design and build computer systems. It helps make sure that computer systems work well. It also makes sure they meet the needs of a business. This idea first started in Australia. It appeared in books around 1981. James Martin wrote about it with Clive Finkelstein.
ITE first helped people design databases. It also helped them understand how businesses used information. This was very useful for database administrators. It also helped systems analysts. They could create systems based on how companies needed to process data.
Later, ITE grew to help businesses deal with fast changes. It helped create better ways to organize information. This led to new ideas in Information Architecture.
Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE)
James Martin's ideas in information technology engineering led to something called CASE. CASE tools are like special computer programs. They help people design and build other computer programs. These tools make the development process faster and easier.
Martin was involved with several companies that made CASE tools. These tools helped automate how software was built. They used descriptions of business needs. Then they could generate parts of the computer code.
Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, Martin's ideas grew. They included rapid application development (RAD). They also included business process reengineering (BPR). These ideas helped make software development even faster.
Rapid Application Development (RAD)
Rapid application development (RAD) is a way to build software quickly. James Martin introduced his own approach to RAD in 1991. His method involves building software in small steps. It also uses prototypes. A prototype is like a rough draft of the software. You build it, test it, and then make it better.
Today, the term RAD is used more broadly. It includes many techniques to speed up software development. This can involve using special tools called web application frameworks. RAD helps get software working faster. Sometimes, this means making small compromises. But it helps get the main features ready quickly.
The Oxford Martin School
In 2004, James Martin made a huge donation. He gave £60 million to the University of Oxford. This money helped start The James Martin 21st Century School. In 2010, it was renamed The Oxford Martin School. This was the largest single donation ever given to the university at that time.
The school's goal is to find new ideas and technologies. It wants to make the future a better place for everyone. In 2009, Martin promised even more money. He said he would give another $50 million if others matched it. This goal was met in 2010.
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