Victor Poor facts for kids

Victor "Vic" Poor (July 12, 1933 – August 17, 2012) was an American engineer and computer pioneer. He helped create the design for the first successful computer microprocessor. This chip was later known as the Intel 8008. His work also led to the creation of the Datapoint 2200, which was the first personal computer.

Early Life and Navy Service

Victor Dale Poor was born in Los Angeles, California. From a young age, he loved radio technology. He even built his own radio from old parts. In 1951, he became a licensed amateur radio operator. His callsign was W6JSO.

After high school, Poor joined the United States Navy in 1952. While training in California, he met his future wife, Florence. They married in November 1952. He was then stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Career in Technology

After leaving the Navy in 1955, Poor started working at Stromberg-Carlson. This company focused on telecommunications. He learned computer programming and wrote his first program in 1956. Later, he joined Raytheon. Even though he didn't go to college, he took many electronics classes. He learned very quickly and soon began teaching others.

Poor then moved to Maryland. He helped start a company called Frederick Electronics. This company made radio and telegraph equipment. He came up with the idea to use radioteletype machines to send data wirelessly. These machines were sold to the United States Army and news companies like the Associated Press. They used them to send news reports around the world.

Developing Computer Technology

Victor Poor continued to work on new ways to send information. He wanted to send photos and pictures wirelessly. In 1969, he and another radio enthusiast, Harry Pyle, created the basic design for the modern microprocessor. They asked Jonathan Schmidt to write the software for it. They showed their idea to companies like Texas Instruments and Intel. This partnership led to the creation of the Intel 8008 chip. This chip was a very important step for all modern computers.

In late 1969, Poor joined a new computer company called Computer Terminal Corporation. He became their Technical Director. He helped them work with Intel to put his design onto a computer chip. This project became the Intel 8008 master chip, the world's first 8-bit microprocessor. Poor and Pyle also developed the instructions that allowed the Datapoint 2200 computer terminal to be built. This product was very successful. The company later changed its name to Datapoint.

Poor also oversaw the creation of ARCNET. This was an early type of local area network, which connects computers in a small area. He stayed with Datapoint until 1984. After leaving Datapoint, he decided to "retire" and go sailing with his wife. They sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and explored the Mediterranean.

Contributions to Amateur Radio

While sailing, Poor found it hard to communicate by radio. This led him to create software that connected the Internet with amateur radio. This system helped store and send messages. Today, it is part of a big emergency communication network.

In 1985, Poor developed the first version of a program called APlink. He also helped create Winlink with other radio amateurs. Both systems could automatically send messages between amateur radio stations. These systems became very important for radio enthusiasts. They were also used by the United States military and emergency teams. The system was very helpful after Hurricane Katrina, when other communication systems failed.

Later Life and Hobbies

In 1994, Poor became the President of Airnet. This company was a spin-off from Harris Corporation. He and his wife later retired to Brevard County, Florida.

On December 8, 2004, Victor Poor's story was recorded by the Computer History Museum. This helped preserve his important contributions to technology.

Poor had many hobbies throughout his life. He loved operating amateur radio, flying airplanes, and sailing boats. He and his wife Florence enjoyed many sailing trips. They sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and explored many coastlines.

In May 2012, Poor was diagnosed with cancer. On July 9, he received the ARRL President's Award. This award is given for a lifetime of great achievements. Victor Poor passed away on August 17, 2012, in Palm Bay, Florida.

See also

In Spanish: Victor Poor para niños