Reynold B. Johnson (July 16, 1906 – September 15, 1998) was an American inventor and computer pioneer. A long-time employee of IBM, Johnson is said to be the "father" of the hard disk drive. Other inventions include automatic test scoring equipment and the videocassette tape.
A native of Minnesota, born to Swedish immigrants, Johnson graduated from Minnehaha Academy (1925) and went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota (BS in Educational Administration, 1929).
In the early 1930s, Johnson, then a high school science teacher in Michigan, invented an electronic test scoring machine that sensed pencil marks on a standardized form. IBM bought the rights to Reynold's invention and hired him as an engineer to work in their Endicott, New York laboratory. The test scoring machine was sold as the IBM 805 Test Scoring Machine beginning in 1937.
One of Reynold's early assignments was to develop technology that allowed cards marked with pencil marks to be converted into punched cards. That allowed punched card data to be recorded by people using only a pencil. That "mark sense" technology was widely used by businesses in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. For example, the Bell System used mark sense technology to record long-distance calls, and utility companies used it to record meter readings. The Federal Government used it under the name "electrographic" technology.
In 1952, IBM sent Johnson to San Jose, California, to set up and manage its West Coast Laboratory. In 1956, a research team led by Johnson developed disk data storage technology, which IBM released as the IBM 305 RAMAC. Although the first disk drive was crude by modern standards, it launched a multibillion-dollar industry.
Johnson was working with Sony on another project when he developed the prototype for a half-inch videocassette tape. Lou Stevens noted that "Sony was using wider tape on reels. He cut the tape to a half an inch, and put it in a cartridge. The larger tapes weren't easy enough for kids to use, and his interest was in education and building a video textbook for kids."[1]
Johnson retired from IBM in 1971. He obtained more than 90 patents. After his retirement, he developed the microphonograph technology used in the Fisher-Price "Talk to Me Books". The Talk to Me Books won a Toy of the Year award. This technology was also used by the National Audubon Society to aid bird watchers with songbird identification. He received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Ronald Reagan in 1986.
^Spiegelman, Lisa (May 23, 1995). "Inventor Rey Johnson: creating a solution by first understanding the problem". Investors Business Daily. p. 1.
^Fisher, Lawrence M. (September 18, 1998). "Reynold Johnson, 92, Pioneer In Computer Hard Disk Drives". The New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
Further readingedit
Lundstrom, Mack (September 17, 1998). "Reynold, father of disk drive, dies at 92". San Jose Mercury News. p. 1A.
"R.B. Johnson Dies; Disk Drive Inventor". Washington Post. September 20, 1998. p. B06.
Blankenship, William D. (June 1971). "Rey Johnson: A Full life, A Fuller Future". IBM Archives. IBM. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering, Volume 9 (2001)
December 15, 2023
reynold, johnson, july, 1906, september, 1998, american, inventor, computer, pioneer, long, time, employee, johnson, said, father, hard, disk, drive, other, inventions, include, automatic, test, scoring, equipment, videocassette, tape, born, 1906, july, 1906mi. Reynold B Johnson July 16 1906 September 15 1998 was an American inventor and computer pioneer A long time employee of IBM Johnson is said to be the father of the hard disk drive Other inventions include automatic test scoring equipment and the videocassette tape Reynold B JohnsonBorn 1906 07 16 July 16 1906Minnesota U S DiedSeptember 15 1998 1998 09 15 aged 92 Palo Alto California U S NationalityAmericanAlma materUniversity of MinnesotaOccupation s Inventor Computer pioneerAwardsComputer Pioneer Award 1987 Biography editA native of Minnesota born to Swedish immigrants Johnson graduated from Minnehaha Academy 1925 and went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota BS in Educational Administration 1929 In the early 1930s Johnson then a high school science teacher in Michigan invented an electronic test scoring machine that sensed pencil marks on a standardized form IBM bought the rights to Reynold s invention and hired him as an engineer to work in their Endicott New York laboratory The test scoring machine was sold as the IBM 805 Test Scoring Machine beginning in 1937 One of Reynold s early assignments was to develop technology that allowed cards marked with pencil marks to be converted into punched cards That allowed punched card data to be recorded by people using only a pencil That mark sense technology was widely used by businesses in the 1940s 50s and 60s For example the Bell System used mark sense technology to record long distance calls and utility companies used it to record meter readings The Federal Government used it under the name electrographic technology In 1952 IBM sent Johnson to San Jose California to set up and manage its West Coast Laboratory In 1956 a research team led by Johnson developed disk data storage technology which IBM released as the IBM 305 RAMAC Although the first disk drive was crude by modern standards it launched a multibillion dollar industry Johnson was working with Sony on another project when he developed the prototype for a half inch videocassette tape Lou Stevens noted that Sony was using wider tape on reels He cut the tape to a half an inch and put it in a cartridge The larger tapes weren t easy enough for kids to use and his interest was in education and building a video textbook for kids 1 Johnson retired from IBM in 1971 He obtained more than 90 patents After his retirement he developed the microphonograph technology used in the Fisher Price Talk to Me Books The Talk to Me Books won a Toy of the Year award This technology was also used by the National Audubon Society to aid bird watchers with songbird identification He received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Ronald Reagan in 1986 The IEEE Reynold B Johnson Information Storage Systems Award was established in 1991 and is each year presented to a small team or an individual that has made outstanding contributions to information storage systems Johnson was awarded the Franklin Institute s Certificate of Merit in 1996 Johnson died in 1998 at the age of 92 of melanoma at Palo Alto California 2 References edit Spiegelman Lisa May 23 1995 Inventor Rey Johnson creating a solution by first understanding the problem Investors Business Daily p 1 Fisher Lawrence M September 18 1998 Reynold Johnson 92 Pioneer In Computer Hard Disk Drives The New York Times Retrieved June 26 2010 Further reading editLundstrom Mack September 17 1998 Reynold father of disk drive dies at 92 San Jose Mercury News p 1A R B Johnson Dies Disk Drive Inventor Washington Post September 20 1998 p B06 Blankenship William D June 1971 Rey Johnson A Full life A Fuller Future IBM Archives IBM Retrieved April 3 2014 Memorial Tributes National Academy of Engineering Volume 9 2001 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reynold B Johnson amp oldid 1186955902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
