My personal computer software designs have been profoundly influenced by not only Buckminster Fuller, but also by several "pioneers."

Claude E. Shannon, in his 1948 paper, "A Mathematical Theory of Communication,'' formulated the theory of data compression. Many of the basic concepts underlying today's computers may be traced back to the late Mr. Shannon. Our senses evaluate the analog world, so the essential analog-to-digital-to-analog process he described provides the foundation for the digital revolution of the last half century.

W. Daniel Hillis, whose Thinking Machines Corp. was the leading innovator in massive parallel supercomputers and RAID disk arrays, continues to inspire as Chairman and CTO of Applied Minds, Inc. and co-chairman of The Long Now Foundation. His book, "The Pattern on the Stone : The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work," put forth theories that continue to guide my every step in software development.

Favorites: The New York Times * The Buckminster Fuller Institute * Chautauqua * LuLu Press * Dan Bricklin * William Dunk