Antonín Svoboda
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[edit] Biography of Czech computer scientist and pioneer
Antonín Svoboda was born in October 14th 1907 in capital city of Czechoslovakia, Prague. Graduated at Czech Technical University in Prague. In 1936 was called to active duty in Czechoslovak military service. He served in air defence artillery, where joined team developing fire controlling devices.
In 1939 left Czechoslovakia with plans of advanced sight gear hidden in construction of his bicycle. However this valuable bicycle was sunk during embarkation in France. He came to USA, New York in 1941. Here continued his work on anti-aircraft defense gear for ABAX an later in Radiation laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston (MIT). For his contribution to development of sight gear Mark 56 was awarded with Naval Ordnance Development Award.
After end of war, He returned back to Czechoslovakia. Here in 1946 finished book Computing Mechanisms and Linkages pubished in edition Radiation Laboratory Series. Svoboda formed 'Research Institute for Mathematical Machines' (in Czech 'Výzkumný ústav matematických strojů'), known as VÚMS. Here working on development of first Czechoslovak digital computer SAPO.
Political henchmans made him to left Czechoslovakia second time in 1964, this time definitely.
Continued on work on various US universities till 1977.
Died in May 18 1980 in Portland.
[edit] Links
[edit] References
Svoboda A.: From Mechanical Linkages to Electronic Computers: Recollections from Czechoslovakia. IEEE 1980.
[edit] External links in English
University of California: In memoriam, 1980
