A to Z of Computer Scientists, Updated Edition

Praise for the previous edition:

"Entries are written with enough clarity and simplicity to appeal to general audiences. The additional readings that end each profile give excellent pointers for more detailed information...Recommended."—Choice

"This well-written collection of biographies of the most important contributors to the computer world...is a valuable resource for those interested in the men and women who were instrumental in making the world we live in today. This is a recommended purchase for reference collections."—American Reference Books Annual

"...this one is recommended for high-school, public, and undergraduate libraries."—Booklist

The significant role that the computer plays in the business world, schools, and homes speaks to the impact it has on our daily lives. While many people are familiar with the Internet, online shopping, and basic computer technology, the scientists who pioneered this digital age are generally less well-known.

A to Z of Computer Scientists, Updated Edition features 136 computer pioneers and shows the ways in which these individuals developed their ideas, overcame technical and institutional challenges, collaborated with colleagues, and created products or institutions of lasting importance. The cutting-edge, contemporary entries explore a diverse group of inventors, scientists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries in the computer science field.

People covered include:



Grace Hopper (1906–1992)

Dennis Ritchie (1941–2011)

Brian Kernighan (1942–present)

Howard Rheingold (1947–present)

Bjarne Stroustrup (1950–present)

Esther Dyson (1951–present)

Silvio Micali (1954–present)

Jeff Bezos (1964–present)

Pierre Omidyar (1967–present)

Jerry Yang (1968–present)