Larry Tesler: Difference between revisions
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Tesler grew up in New York City and graduated from the [[Bronx High School of Science]] in 1961. He went on to [[Stanford University]], where he studied [[computer science]] in the 1960s, and worked for a time at the [[Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory]]. With [[Horace Enea]], he designed Compel, an early single assignment language. This functional programming language was intended to make concurrent processing more natural and was used to introduce programming concepts to beginners.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Tesler|first=L. G.|coauthors=Horace Enea|title=A language design for concurrent processes|journal=AFIPS '68 (Spring) Proceedings of the April 30--May 2, 1968, spring joint computer conference|year=1968|month=April|pages=403–408|doi=10.1145/1468075.1468134}}</ref> |
Tesler grew up in New York City and graduated from the [[Bronx High School of Science]] in 1961. He went on to [[Stanford University]], where he studied [[computer science]] in the 1960s, and worked for a time at the [[Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory]]. With [[Horace Enea]], he designed Compel, an early single assignment language. This functional programming language was intended to make concurrent processing more natural and was used to introduce programming concepts to beginners.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Tesler|first=L. G.|coauthors=Horace Enea|title=A language design for concurrent processes|journal=AFIPS '68 (Spring) Proceedings of the April 30--May 2, 1968, spring joint computer conference|year=1968|month=April|pages=403–408|doi=10.1145/1468075.1468134}}</ref> |
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in the late 60s he was involved with the [[Midpeninsula Free University]], where he delivered classes on such topics as [[How to End the IBM Monopoly]], [[Computers Now]] and [[Procrastination]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Wolpman|first=Jim|title=Alive in the 60s: The Midpeninsula Free University|url=http://midpeninsulafreeu.com/|accessdate=17 December 2013}}</ref> |
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From 1973 to 1980, he was at Xerox PARC, where, among other things, he worked on the [[Gypsy (software)|Gypsy]] [[word processor]] and [[Smalltalk]]. [[Copy and paste]] was first implemented in 1973-1976 by Tesler and [[Tim Mott]] while working on the programming of [[Gypsy (software)|Gypsy]] at [[Xerox Palo Alto Research Center]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} |
From 1973 to 1980, he was at Xerox PARC, where, among other things, he worked on the [[Gypsy (software)|Gypsy]] [[word processor]] and [[Smalltalk]]. [[Copy and paste]] was first implemented in 1973-1976 by Tesler and [[Tim Mott]] while working on the programming of [[Gypsy (software)|Gypsy]] at [[Xerox Palo Alto Research Center]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} |
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Revision as of 20:23, 17 December 2013
Larry (formally Lawrence Gordon) Tesler (born April 24, 1945) is a computer scientist working in the field of human-computer interaction. Tesler has worked at Xerox PARC, Apple Computer, Amazon.com, and Yahoo!
Tesler grew up in New York City and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1961. He went on to Stanford University, where he studied computer science in the 1960s, and worked for a time at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. With Horace Enea, he designed Compel, an early single assignment language. This functional programming language was intended to make concurrent processing more natural and was used to introduce programming concepts to beginners.[1]
in the late 60s he was involved with the Midpeninsula Free University, where he delivered classes on such topics as How to End the IBM Monopoly, Computers Now and Procrastination.[2] From 1973 to 1980, he was at Xerox PARC, where, among other things, he worked on the Gypsy word processor and Smalltalk. Copy and paste was first implemented in 1973-1976 by Tesler and Tim Mott while working on the programming of Gypsy at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.[citation needed]
In 1980, Tesler moved to Apple Computer, where he held various positions, including Vice President of AppleNet, Vice President of the Advanced Technology Group, and Chief Scientist.[3] He worked on the Lisa team, and was enthusiastic about the development of the Macintosh as the successor to the Lisa.
In 1985, Tesler worked with Niklaus Wirth to add object-oriented language extensions to the Pascal programming language, calling the new language Object Pascal. He also was instrumental in developing MacApp, one of the first class libraries for application development. Eventually, these two technologies became shipping Apple products.
Starting in 1990, Tesler led the efforts to develop the Apple Newton, initially as Vice President of the Advanced Development Group, and then as Vice President of the Personal Interactive Electronics division.
In 1991, he contributed the article "Networked Computing in the 1990s" to Scientific American Special Issue on Communications, Computers, and Networks, September, 1991.
Tesler left Apple in 1997 to co-found Stagecast Software, which allowed him to apply his enthusiasm for kids' programming and use of computers, an enthusiasm he acquired mainly at Xerox PARC, where he worked in Alan Kay's Learning Research Group.
Tesler joined Amazon.com in 2001; in 2004, he became the company's Vice President of Shopping Experience. In 2005, he joined Yahoo! as Vice President of Yahoo!'s User Experience and Design group.[4]
In November 2008, he left Yahoo to join personal genetics information company, 23andMe, as Product Fellow. Since December 2009, he has been an independent consultant.
Tesler is on the board of the Gorilla Foundation.
Tesler has a strong preference for modeless software, in which a user action has a consistent effect, rather than changing its meaning dependent on previous actions, as in the vi text editor [citation needed]. His Gypsy editor, for example, provided a 'click and type' interface in which the user could, at any time, enter text at the current insertion point, or click where the insertion point should be repositioned. Previously, most editors used the keyboard to enter text or to issue commands, depending on the current mode. To promote his preference, as of 2010, Tesler has equipped his Subaru automobile with a personalized California license plate with the license number "NO MODES". He has used this license number since about 1980. Along with others, he has also been using the phrase "Don't Mode Me In" for years as a rally cry to eliminate or reduce modes.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Tesler, L. G. (1968). "A language design for concurrent processes". AFIPS '68 (Spring) Proceedings of the April 30--May 2, 1968, spring joint computer conference: 403–408. doi:10.1145/1468075.1468134.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Wolpman, Jim. "Alive in the 60s: The Midpeninsula Free University". Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ^ Crotty, Cameron (July 1, 1996). "Tesler attacks Internet (Apple VP Larry Tesler speaks at Worldwide Developers Conference about Apple's Internet strategy)". Macworld.
- ^ "Yahoo! Appoints Larry Tesler Head of User Experience and Design". Business Wire. May 10, 2005. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ Origins of the Apple Human Interface by Larry Tesler, Chris Espinosa
External links
- Larry Tesler home page
- Publications by Larry Tesler from Interaction-Design.org
- Stagecast site