Bob Albrecht
Bob Albrecht | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Computer specialist, magazine founder |
| Known for | Founding People's Computer Company and its newsletters; early microcomputer advocacy; promoting Tiny BASIC; authoring books on BASIC programming |
Bob Albrecht was a key figure in the nascent microcomputer sector. As one of the founders of the People's Computer Company and its associated newsletters, which later developed into Dr. Dobb's Journal, he had a major impact on the culture surrounding early computing. He was responsible for bringing the initial Altair 8800 to the Homebrew Computer Club and advocated for establishing Tiny BASIC as a standard feature on early personal computers. Albrecht also wrote multiple books focused on BASIC programming and computing, and his contributions are acknowledged in Steven Levy's Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution.
Career
Albrecht left his graduate studies in 1955 to join the Aeronautical Division of Minneapolis-Honeywell, where he worked on flight control systems designed for jet aircraft. Shortly thereafter, he shifted his focus to software development using an IBM 650 drum memory computer, actively encouraging analog engineers to explore computing.
By 1962, while serving as a senior applications analyst at Control Data Corporation, a presentation he gave at George Washington High School in Denver inspired him to pursue computer education more seriously.
People's Computer Company
Following his departure from Control Data Corporation, Albrecht became involved with the nonprofit Portola Institute and initiated the People's Computer Company project in October 1972. Although named as such, it was primarily a newsletter influenced by Janis Joplin’s band, Big Brother and the Holding Company. The project also featured a walk-in storefront designed to teach children how to appreciate computing. This effort gave rise to the publication Dr. Dobb's Journal of Computer Calisthenics and Orthodontia. In addition, Albrecht’s publishing firm Dymax was dedicated to making programming accessible for young audiences.
Further reading
- Interview of Bob Albrecht at History of Computing in Learning and Education Virtual Museum, 2015