C. Robert Wieser Explained

C. Robert Wieser (January 19, 1919 – March 1, 2011)^[1] qualified from MIT as an electrical engineer and later became a developer of electrical and computing technology. He was especially and particularly noted for having contributed to the development of the Cape Cod Air Defense system (Cape Cod Air Force Station) and SAGE system.^{[2] [3]}

Wieser directed the first successful testing of the technology necessary for the creation of an airborne interception system (using radar and computers), which from this embryonic state, would later develop into the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system (SAGE). The SAGE system led to the development of technology known as packet switching, which contributed directly, from being a composite element of technology, to the creation of the ARPANET and ultimately the Internet.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

Short biography

Wieser was born Charles Robert Wieser in New Rochelle, New York on January 19, 1919.^[8]

The following information shows a biographical history of C. Robert Wieser made using three sources:^{[2] [3] [9]}

• 1940 - graduated from MIT with a Bachelor in Science in Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Science in the subject Electrical Engineering.
• from 1940 to 1942 - worked for the Boston Edison Company.
• worked for MIT Servornechanisms Laboratory, developing the application of the Whirlwind I to air traffic control and subsequently to air defence usage (circa 1949).
• 1951 - joined the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he was leader of a group developing the Cape Cod Air Defense Direction Center, and involved in the preparation of the operational and mathematical specifications for the SAGE air defence system. Later he was appointed as head, assistant director, and finally as deputy director of the Systems Division.
• 1968 - was employed at the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
• 1971 - appointed as director of the Advanced Weapons Programs within the Douglas Astronautics Company.
• 1982 - vice president and general manager of the Western Division of Physical Dynamics, Inc., RES Operations
• 1985 - Director of Engineering at Science Applications International Corporation (Newport Beach, California).

Wieser died on March 1, 2011, aged 92.^[10]

See also

• Jay Forrester
• J. C. R. Licklider

External links

• Paul N. Edwards - The Closed World: Computers and the Politics of Discourse in Cold War America MIT Press 1997 (reprint, revised) Inside technology, 440 pages,

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1950 United States Federal Census . Ancestry . 3 May 2023.
2. Book: C. Robert Wieser. J.A.N. Lee (IEEE Computer Society). IEEE 2013-2015. 2015-08-05.
3. Book: Rescuing Prometheus: Four Monumental Projects that Changed Our World. Thomas P. Hughes . Thomas P. Hughes . 5 January 2011. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group 5 Jan 2011 (unabridged), 384 pages. 978-0307773265. 2015-08-06.
4. Book: From Whirlwind to MITRE: The R&D Story of the SAGE Air Defense Computer (p.2). Kent C. Redmond & Thomas M. Smith. 10 October 2000. MIT Press 2000. 0262264269. 2015-08-05.
5. Book: Paul Baran Invents Packet Switching Living Internet. William Stewart. Living Internet 2000 01 07. 2015-08-04. (accessdate also 2015-08-05)
6. John T. Moy - OSPF: Anatomy of an Internet Routing Protocol Addison-Wesley Professional 1998, 339 pages, [Retrieved 2015-08-05]
7. Living Internet - Packet Switching History (William Stewart 1996 - 2014) [Retrieved 2015-08-06]
8. Web site: U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 . Ancestry . 3 May 2023.
9. Computer Museum (Marlborough, Mass.) The Computer Museum Report, Volumes 12-22 published by The Computer Museum, 1985 [Retrieved 2015-08-05]
10. Web site: U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 . Ancestry . 3 May 2023.