Larry Roberts

About

Larry Roberts was a pivotal figure in the development of modern computing and networking. Born on December 21, 1937, in Westport, Connecticut, he earned his degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Roberts is renowned for his work on ARPANET, the first operational packet-switching network, which laid the groundwork for the modern Internet. He was recruited by ARPA in 1967 to lead this project, incorporating concepts from Donald Davies and Paul Baran. His contributions not only shaped ARPANET but also influenced subsequent networking technologies. Roberts continued his career as a pioneer in commercial packet switching, founding Telenet and contributing to the X.25 protocol. He received numerous awards for his contributions, including induction into the Internet Hall of Fame. Roberts' work extended beyond networking; he is also recognized for his early research in computer vision. He passed away on December 26, 2018, leaving behind a legacy as one of the founding fathers of the Internet. His dedication to advancing communication technologies has had a lasting impact on global connectivity.