Maurice Wilkes

Maurice Wilkes was a renowned British computer scientist and electrical engineer who made significant contributions to the development of computer science and electrical engineering. He is best known for his work on the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC), one of the first practical stored-program computers, which was developed at the University of Cambridge. Wilkes' work was influenced by Alan Turing, Konrad Zuse, and John von Neumann, and he collaborated with David Wheeler and Stanley Gill on various projects. His research also drew on the work of Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener.

● Early Life and Education

Maurice Wilkes was born in Dudley, England, and grew up in a family of engineers and mathematicians. He was educated at King Edward VI College in Stourbridge and later studied at St John's College, Cambridge, where he earned a degree in mathematics and physics. During his time at Cambridge University, Wilkes was influenced by the work of Paul Dirac and Ernest Rutherford, and he developed an interest in electrical engineering and computer science. He also drew on the work of Guglielmo Marconi and Alexander Graham Bell.

● Career

Wilkes' career in computer science began during World War II, when he worked on radar technology at the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) in Malvern, Worcestershire. After the war, he joined the University of Cambridge as a lecturer in electrical engineering and began working on the development of EDSAC. Wilkes collaborated with David Wheeler and Stanley Gill on the project, which was influenced by the work of John von Neumann and Alan Turing. He also worked with Tom Kilburn and Freddie Williams on the development of the Manchester Baby, one of the first stored-program computers. Wilkes' research also drew on the work of Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, and he was familiar with the work of Vannevar Bush and John Mauchly.

● Contributions to Computer Science

Maurice Wilkes made significant contributions to the development of computer science, including the creation of EDSAC, which was one of the first practical stored-program computers. He also developed the concept of microprogramming, which is still used in computer design today. Wilkes' work on EDSAC influenced the development of later computers, including the UNIVAC I and the IBM 701. He also collaborated with Alan Turing on the development of the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE), and he worked with Konrad Zuse on the development of the Z3 and Z4 computers. Wilkes' research also drew on the work of John von Neumann and Marvin Minsky, and he was familiar with the work of Seymour Cray and Gene Amdahl.

● Awards and Honors

Maurice Wilkes received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to computer science, including the Turing Award in 1967, which he shared with Alan Perlis. He was also awarded the Faraday Medal in 1981 and the Mountbatten Medal in 1997. Wilkes was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1956 and was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Cambridge in 1974. He also received honorary degrees from the University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, and University of Manchester. Wilkes was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and he was a fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the British Computer Society (BCS).

● Later Life and Legacy

Maurice Wilkes continued to work on computer science projects throughout his life, including the development of the Cambridge Ring computer network. He also wrote several books on computer science, including "Time-Sharing Computer Systems" and "Computing Perspectives". Wilkes died on November 29, 2010, at the age of 97, leaving behind a legacy as one of the pioneers of computer science. His work on EDSAC and microprogramming continues to influence the development of computers and computer networks today, and his collaborations with Alan Turing, Konrad Zuse, and John von Neumann remain an important part of the history of computer science. Wilkes' legacy is also recognized by the Maurice Wilkes Award, which is presented annually by the British Computer Society (BCS) to recognize outstanding contributions to computer science. Category:Computer scientists