2 Nov
2010
2 Nov
'10
8:47 p.m.
On Tue, Nov 2, 2010 at 11:27 PM, Evan Koblentz <evan at snarc.net> wrote:
Watts Humphrey, known as the "father of software
quality testing" died a few
days ago. ?He was 83.
Watts was a keynote speaker at VCF East 5.0 (two years ago.) ?He worked on
the MOBIDIC ("Mobile Digital Computer") and on the Fieldata spec (which
became ASCII), and which both happened at the Army base that's now our
museum.
Favorite story that I enjoy telling: Watts explained how, when MOBIDIC was
finished and mounted in its 30-foot truck (late 1950s), the Army insisted on
testing it like any other military vehicle. ?So they drove the
computer-truck to the Aberdeen Proving Ground. ?On two test laps, the
computer itself came through with flying colors both times. ?Also on both
laps, the truck broke down!
Very sorry to hear about this. It was great meeting him at VCF East, I
saved some pics of him from the event which I don't think are online,
I'll try to post them if the others haven't been yet. I'll have to
review the video I have too and see if I did record any of that
lecture.
=Dan
--http://www.vintagecomputer.net/ragooman/