Who invented email?

So who did invent email? Conventional wisdom (and Wikipedia) state that Ray Tomlinson sent the first email in 1971 between two DEC computers on the ARPANet. He is also credited with inventing the use of "@" symbol to designate "a user" @ "a host". However, a recent article in the New York Times claims that Noel Morris and Tom Van Vleck invented email around 1965 at MIT.
Tom Van Vleck writes in: The History of Electronic Mail:  "Ray [Tomlinson] is famous for "inventing electronic mail." In fact, electronic mail had existed for years when he wrote his programs, which became widely distributed among ARPANet users." So it would seem that Tomlinson is only really famous for using the "@" symbol, not "inventing" email.

BBC Radio Documentary on Ada Lovelace

Lady Ada Lovelace

I just came across a BBC radio documentary from a few years ago about Ada Lovelace who features in chapter 2 of my book. Well worth a listen.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0092j0x

Happy Birthday IBM

IBM will be 100 years old this week. This short video from the BBC shows how the company has changed over the years.
Publish Post

The 100 greatest non-fiction books

The Guardian has compiled a list of the 100 greatest non-fiction books. Like any such list it's intended to spark debate not be definitive. I did like the comment on the blog from someone who wondered if books on "religion" should be on a "non-fiction" list!

Turing statue fools a dog

There's a statue of Alan Turing in Manchester of him sitting on a park bench. A sheep dog obviously found it very realistic as it tries to get the statue to throw a stick for it.

Alan Turing Year

Next year, 2012 will be the centenary of Alan Turing's birth and celebrations and commemorations are being planned around the world. Full details of all the events can be seen on the Alan Turing Year website:   http://www.turingcentenary.eu
There's also a facebook page.

iOS 5.0 finally PC free

Apple have just announced at the WWDC that iOS 5 will finally allow all iOS devices to be completely PC free. You will no longer need to own a PC or Mac to setup and sync your iPhone, iPad or Touch devices. Apple have also announced their iCloud system that is of course the essential back end to enable wireless sync. I've been predicting this for some time now. I really don't understand why industry watchers seem so surprised. As Apple keep saying we're in a "post-PC world" now, requiring you to own a PC just to initialise your iPad is daft. Now the cord can be cut. 

Recent Reading and News

I've been travelling and out of internet contact for a while. Whilst away I read two books about Steve Jobs, iCon: Steve Jobs the greatest second act in the history of business and Inside Steve's Brain. The first is a standard sort of biography about Steve Jobs and quite informative, whilst the second is more about what has made his businesses so successful. Both are worth reading, though the second could use a good editor.


I may have some news soon about a publisher...watch this space...