Ben Gurley

Ben Gurley (December 23, 1926 – November 7, 1963) was an important figure in the history of computing. At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Gurley designed the cathode ray tube display and light pen of the TX-0, a pioneering minicomputer.[1] In 1959 Gurley left Lincoln Labs for Digital Equipment Corporation; he was the designer of DEC's first computer, the PDP-1.[2][3]

Gurley died of a gunshot fired through a window in his home while eating dinner with his family. A former co-worker from DEC was convicted of the crime.[4] This incident inspired acquaintance and author John Updike to write his popular novel "The Music School".[4]

References
  1. Ceruzzi, Paul E. (2003). History of Modern Computing, 2e. MIT Press. ISBN 9780262532037.
  2. "Computer History Museum - Restoring the DEC PDP-1 Computer Exhibit". Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  3. "PDP-1 – Complete History of the DEC PDP-1 Computer".
  4. Gardner, W. David (13 February 2009). "Updike's Passing Recalls Brush With Murdered Computer Designer". InformationWeek. Retrieved 2023-07-06.


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