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Michael S. Hart, e-book inventor and Project Gutenberg founder, dies at 64
There's some sad news coming out of Illinois today, where Michael S. Hart, the e-book inventor who founded Project Gutenberg, has died at the age of 64. Hart's literary journey began in 1971, when he digitized and distributed his first text, after being inspired by a free printed copy of the Declaration of Independence he found at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That same year, the Tacoma, Washington native founded Project Gutenberg -- an online library that aims to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks" and to "break down the bars of ignorance and illiteracy." By 1987, he'd already digitized a total of 313 books, including works from Homer, Shakespeare and the Bible, before recruiting more volunteers to help out. As of this June, Hart's pioneering library housed about 36,000 works in its collection (most of which are in the public domain), with an average of 50 new books added each week. Described by Project Gutenberg as an "ardent technologist and futurist," Hart leaves a literary legacy perhaps best summed up in his own words. "One thing about eBooks that most people haven't thought much is that eBooks are the very first thing that we're all able to have as much as we want other than air," he wrote in July. "Think about that for a moment and you realize we are in the right job." Michael S. Hart is survived by his mother and brother.
Game writing pioneer Bill Kunkel passes away
Bill Kunkel, who started writing the first-ever dedicated video game review column in 1978 and co-founded Electronic Games Magazine, passed away on Sept. 4. Most familiar with Kunkel's work likely know him as "The Game Doctor," after a column that appeared in Computer Gaming World and other publications, but Kunkel also wrote comics for DC, Marvel and Harvey, covered pro-wrestling and helped design nearly two dozen games. Honestly, you just have to read all the things the guy worked on to believe it. Kunkel has been the subject of dozens of remembrances throughout the web from the journalists and developers he inspired. Activision's Dan Amrich wrote "I read him religiously growing up. He paved my way." Former Gamespot EIC and Bastion writer Greg Kasavin said, "I never met him but his work was an inspiration." Kunkel, who leaves behind wife Laurie, was 61 years old.
George Devol, creator of the first industrial robot arm dies at 99
He may not be a household name like Henry Ford, but it's arguable that George Devol's (above, right) work was even more influential in shaping the modern manufacturing landscape. In 1961, roughly seven years after first applying for the patent, his Unimate was put into service in a GE automobile plant. The world's first programmable, robotic arm was used to lift hot cast metal components out of a mold and stack them -- the assembly line has never been the same. Other companies soon followed suit, replacing expensive and fragile humans with mechanical labor. Devol died Thursday night in his home at the age of 99. If you're interested in getting a peek at his game-changing invention, you can find one at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. [Image credit: The Estate of George C. Devol]
Game Arts founder Takeshi Miyaji passes away at 45
G-Mode announced today that its CEO and founder Takeshi Miyaji died on July 29 at the age of 45. Cause of death was not released as part of the statement. Miyaji co-founded Game Arts at the age of 19, and is best known for creating the Grandia series, as well as his involvement in other classics like Silpheed, GunGriffon, and Lunar: The Silver Star. In 2000, Miyaji founded G-Mode, a development studio focused on the then-emerging mobile-phone gaming market. He will be succeeded as CEO by Ryu Okoriyama, CEO of Gaia Holdings.
Robert Morris, man who helped develop Unix, dies at 78
We have some somber news to bring you this morning: Robert Morris, the cryptographer who helped create Unix, has died at the age of 78. Morris began his work on the groundbreaking OS back in 1970 at AT&T's Bell Laboratories, where he played a major role in developing Unix's math library, password structure and encryption functions. His cryptographic exploration continued into the late 1970s, when he began writing a paper on an early encryption tool from Germany. But the paper would never see the light of day, thanks to a request from the NSA, which was concerned about potential security ramifications. Instead, the agency brought Morris on board as a computer security expert in 1986. Much of what he did for Uncle Sam remains classified, though he was involved in internet surveillance projects and cyber warfare -- including what might have been America's first cyberattack in 1991, when the US crippled Saddam Hussein's control capabilities during the first Gulf War. Morris stayed with the NSA until 1994, when he retired to New Hampshire. He's survived by his wife, three children and one, massive digital fingerprint. [Image courtesy of the New York Times]
Alan Haberman, barcode advocate, dies at 81
A man whose impact on the world is nearly unfathomable died Sunday. Alan L. Haberman, supermarket-executive-turned-barcode-champion, died in Newton Massachusetts from complications of heart and lung disease at the age of 81. While he did not invent those ubiquitous black and white stripes -- that honor belongs to Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver -- Haberman did lead the campaign to make barcodes the universal standard for electronic product encoding. He chaired the committee responsible for the designation of the zebra-like markings, which in 1973 adopted a barcode designed by George J. Laurer of IBM. In his work at the Uniform Code Council (now known as GS1 US), he pushed for acceptance of multiple standards, including RFID. His obituary can be read in-full at the source link below.
Danger's iconic Hiptop fades away / the Sidekick is here to stay
At the turn of the millennium, three men formed Danger Incorporated, which went on to create a smartphone perfectly positioned for its time. Those men eventually wound up at Google... after one of them founded Android. But what became of the T-Mobile Sidekick, their stylish swiveling phone? After an illustrious life filled with fame, fortune and failure, the Hiptop met its end today. Today, Microsoft and T-Mobile will shut down the Danger servers for good, leaving existing handsets without the push email and cloud services that once made them indispensable to the teens, tweens and businesspeople who used them day in and day out -- leaving the Android-powered Sidekick 4G to fan the remaining embers of the brand. Join us after the break for a video celebration of Danger's pop culture phenomenon, and head on over to Geekwire for a brief history of the iconic device. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got a little water in our eye.
Willard Boyle, man who revolutionized digital imaging, dies at 86
We have some sad news to share with you today: Willard Boyle, the man who created the imaging technology behind everything from digital cameras to barcode scanners, has died at the age of 86. In 2009, Boyle shared a Nobel Prize in physics for inventing the CCD, which allowed people to capture images in digital format for the first time. It all began way back in 1969, when Boyle and his future co-Laureate, George E. Smith, started laying the groundwork for the CCD while working at Bell Laboratories. Building off of Einstein's photoelectric effect, the two eventually came up with a way to locate and quantify the electrons that are knocked out of orbit every time light strikes silicon. Boyle and Smith used this technology to create their own digital camera in 1970, as well as a TV camera in 1975. Prior to his groundbreaking invention, Boyle spent two years working for NASA's Apollo program and helped develop both the ruby laser and the semiconductor injection laser. The last three decades of Boyle's life were spent in Wallace, Canada, where he grew up and, on May 7th, passed away after battling kidney disease. He's survived by his wife, three children and an indelible legacy.
Norio Ohga, former Sony chairman and multimedia pioneer, dies at 81
There's more sad news out of Japan this morning, we're afraid -- Sony is reporting that former chairman Norio Ohga passed away in Tokyo yesterday from multiple organ failure. He was 81. You may not personally remember a Sony under his reign -- Ohga directly helmed the company from 1982 to 1995 after decades of service in product planning -- but Norio Ohga was arguably the man responsible for turning Sony from a high-profile analog electronics manufacturer into a digital multimedia conglomerate. He helmed the deals that formed Sony Music, paved the way for Sony Pictures and established the very same Sony Computer Entertainment that would birth the PlayStation, and it was he who pushed the optical compact disc standard that all but replaced the magnetic cassettes and diskettes that held portable media. Without him, DVDs and Blu-rays might have fallen by the wayside, and that's another thought that brings tears to our eyes. You'll find Ohga's official obituary after the break.
Game console pioneer Jerry Lawson dies at 70
Gerald A. "Jerry" Lawson is one of the great unknown pioneers of the video game industry. He passed away this past Saturday morning of unspecified causes, according to an announcement on Digital Press. Lawson will be remembered as the engineer of the first cartridge-based game console (with a pause option!), the Fairchild Channel F, which launched in August 1976 as the Video Entertainment System (VES). He was also the only black member of the legendary Homebrew Computer Club, formed in Silicon Valley in the mid-70s. In the early 1980s he founded and ran Videosoft, which developed a handful of games for the Atari 2600. Additionally, Lawson's Demolition Derby was one of the first coin-op arcade machines, produced in his garage in the early '70s and installed in a southern California pizzeria shortly after Pong debuted. One of its key design features prevented players from stealing "free" games by jiggling the coin switch. Just last month, Lawson was honored during the 7th Annual IGDA Minority Special Interest Group Social Gathering at GDC. Shortly before the event, he was profiled by the San Jose Mercury News. More about his life is revealed in a 2009 interview with Vintage Computing and Gaming. [Photo credit: Maria J Avila Lopez/Mercury News]
Paul Baran, early internet engineer and architect, passes away at 84
Most of you may not believe it, but the internet as we know it didn't really exist a mere 20 years ago. Paul Baran, an engineer of the ARPANET (an early attempt at a networked information superhighway) has passed away today at the age of 84. As the father of packet-switching -- the basis of all online information exchanges -- he was initially scoffed at by major communications players like AT&T, who thought the tech was too advanced to be realized at the time. However, after the US Department of Defense saw the need for an effective large-scale information network following WWII, the ARPANET was eventually -- and successfully -- built based on these packet-switching concepts and evolved to form the current interweb. We've definitely lost a visionary in the field of networking, and here's to hoping the next generation of like-minded innovators has the same perseverance and success. [Image: Computer History Museum]
Man with bionic arms dies after car crash
Otto Bock's mind-controlled bionic arms let Austria's Christian Kandlbauer work, play and even drive, but it seems the latter passion may have lead to the 22-year-old's untimely demise. Two days after a road accident where the young man's specially-modified Subaru crashed into a tree, Kandlbauer was pronounced brain-dead and taken off life support late last week. It's not known whether the prosthetic arms themselves had anything to do with the crash -- one was found ripped from his body at the scene -- but both he and his vehicle were cleared to drive by local authorities after passing a number of tests. Honestly, it's a tragedy for science and humanity either way.
Tony Curtis buried with iPhone
As many of you have likely heard, actor Tony Curtis passed away in his home last week at the age of 85, due to cardiac arrest. Curtis was best known for his lead roles in movies such as Some Like it Hot and The Defiant Ones. The late actor was put to rest Monday, the funeral being attended by family and friends. It's reported that Curtis was buried with some of his most cherished possessions, including a Stetson hat, an Armani scarf, driving gloves, a copy of his favorite novel ... and his iPhone. I'm not really sure what's more surprising about Curtis being entombed with his iPhone: that he's buried with it for eternity, or that an 85-year-old man was so enamored with an iPhone that he (or others) felt it should remain with him. Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time before the jokes of Curtis calling from the grave are in full force. [via 9 to 5 Mac]
Daryl Gates, ex-police chief and Police Quest: SWAT designer, dies at 83
According to Reuters, former Los Angeles chief of police Daryl Gates passed away at his home on Friday. Though Gates is probably best known for being forced out of his job as chief due to his handling of the Rodney King beating and ensuing riots in 1992, we at Joystiq remember him as the designer of Police Quest: SWAT, the fifth game in the Sierra series. (Gates also contributed to the previous game, Police Quest: Open Season). Okay, okay, so the FMV relic isn't particularly beloved, but Gates was also responsible for establishing the very first SWAT team -- a concept the video game industry has gotten so much mileage out of, we figured Gates was at least owed a moment of recognition. He was 83 years old.
Tradewest co-founder passes away at 75
After fighting a long battle with illness, Tradewest co-founder and businessman Leland Cook passed away this week at the age of 75. He was known in the game industry for spearheading the American distribution and licensing of Ikari Warriors coin-op machines in 1986, bringing such Tradewest classics as Battletoads and Double Dragon to the US, and for appearing as the military colonel you save at the end of the first Ikari Warriors game ("Colonel Cook"). The Tradewest name was purchased by the now defunct Midway in 1996, though following the publisher's collapse, ex-Midway Europe boss Martin Spiess repurchased the name for use with his own startup. Mr. Cook hadn't been involved in the gaming industry for over 10 years, and instead served as the chairman of the board of Community National Bank of Texas Holding Company. He is survived by his wife of 56 years and his loving family. [Via GoNintendo]
Activision remembers DJ AM's work on DJ Hero
Late last week, Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein tragically and suddenly passed away. He was known in the world of gaming for his work on DJ Hero, contributing both music and ideas to the upcoming music/rhythm project. We watched as he and Travis Barker warmed up the crowd for Eminem and Jay-Z just a few short months ago at E3 2009. Having worked with Goldstein so closely as of late, we asked Activision for comment. VP of music affairs Tim Riley told us over the weekend:We are deeply saddened by the loss of DJ AM, who was a tremendous talent, a trusted partner and friend to DJ Hero. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. AM was instrumental in the making of DJ Hero and we hope that his work on the game will be a fitting tribute to his creative spirit and musical talent.Joystiq would like to offer our condolences to DJ AM's family, friends, and anyone else effected by his passing.
D&D co-creator Dave Arneson dead at 61
After a long battle with cancer, Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Dave Arneson passed away in his sleep late Tuesday night. The sad news came from an e-mail from Arneson's family, which includes details on where to send condolences, as well as the time and location for his visitation. We extend our deepest sympathies to Arneson's family and loved ones as they cope with the loss of this truly remarkable man.Even if you've never hurled icosahedrons with a group of fantasy-obsessed friends, Arneson, along with D&D co-creator Gary Gygax (who sadly passed away last year), is responsible for the evolution of the RPG format as we know it today. Though the influential hobby's creators have passed away, their legacy will live on through the skittering of dice across tables worldwide. Rest in peace, Mr. Arneson.
Rumors of Steve Jobs' death greatly exaggerated
You have to figure that major news outlets keep obituaries on hand for all kinds of public figures and celebrities -- still, you can't help feeling a bit of a chill upon learning that notice of Steve Jobs' death mistakingly hit the wires yesterday afternoon. A slip-up at news outlet Bloomberg caused the lengthy obituary to roll across a number of screens before being pulled -- but not before a Gawker tipster was able to send off a copy to the gossip site. Under normal circumstances, this would probably come off as a random gaffe with minimal impact, but given recent reactions / over reactions concerning Jobs' health (thanks in no small part to his appearance at WWDC, pictured above), this comes off as a rotten-timed moment in journalistic and technical butterfingerism. We can only hope this didn't send too many investors into a tailspin -- we'd hate to see any War of the Worlds moments caused by something so silly.[Via CNET]
Steve Jobs: Still Not Dead. Film at 11.
Bloomberg seems to be having an extremely slow news day. Its obituary update for Steve Jobs has turned awry. The obituary, a copy of which was sent to Gawker, contains a list of contacts that could be used for an extended story. Soon after the obituary was published, Bloomberg issued the following retraction: Story Referencing Apple Was Sent in Error by Bloomberg News Aug. 27 (Bloomberg) - An incomplete story referencing Apple Inc. was inadvertently published by Bloomberg News at 4:27 p.m. New York time today. The item was never meant for publication and has been retracted. -Editor: Joe Winski, Cesca Antonelli It should be noted that many major newspapers/magazines keep a preliminary obituary write-up for prominent public people. However, these reports are normally not published before someone actually dies. We can only guess that whomever published this article no longer has a job. Thanks for the tip, Adam![via CNET] Update: Steve Jobs is still not dead. More as this story develops.
Rock Band 2 to feature the late Bo Diddley's guitar
Rock and Roll legend Bo Diddley passed away from heart failure Monday at the age of 79. Widely acknowledged as the forefather of the mid-century rock revolution, Diddley was a musical genius, responsible for inspiring numerous other rock gods of his era. In one obituary for Diddley, it was announced that his recognizable "cigar-box shaped" guitar would be featured in the "impending" Rock Band 2. Unfortunately, we imagine they're talking about an unlockable guitar actually inside the game, and not about any kind of bundled peripheral.Whether Harmonix planned for this to be a tribute to the blues luminary is unclear -- regardless, we'll be chomping at the bit to get Diddley's rectangular axe into the hands of our imaginary six-string virtuosos whenever the sequel to our third-best game of 2007 hits store shelves.
