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The Life of Lee Felsenstein

By ARO72596
  • Born in Philadelphia

    Born in Philadelphia

    Felsenstein was born in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia. This was a part mostly populated by first and second generation Jews.
  • Felsenstein begins to attend UC Berkeley

    Felsenstein begins to attend UC Berkeley

    Perhaps not his first choice, but UC Berkeley offered the best financial aid for Felsenstein.
  • One of the 768 arrestees in the "Sproul Hall Sit-In"

    One of the 768 arrestees in the "Sproul Hall Sit-In"

    Felsenstein was a very active participant in the early Free Speech Movement. As such, he was arrested during the iconic "Sproul Hall Sit-In" on the UC Berkeley campus.
  • Lee drops out of UC Berkeley

    Lee drops out of UC Berkeley

  • Lee begins at Ampex

    Lee begins at Ampex

    After dropping out from UC Berkeley, Felsenstein began to work for the Ampex Corporation where he claims to have mastered the craft of engineering. This is where he remains employed until 1971.
  • Graduated from UC Berkeley

    Graduated from UC Berkeley

  • The Community Memory is Opened

    The Community Memory is Opened

    The Community Memory Project, which began in 1972 while Lee was working at Resource One, Inc., was initially used to attract indiviuals from varying walks of life to create social interactions with "non-technical" people. The first terminals were placed in places like supermarkets with this hope in mind. This was all done before the invention of the internet. In 1973, Community Memory was opened as a service.
  • Lee joins the Homebrew Computer Club

    Lee joins the Homebrew Computer Club

  • Pennywhistle Modem is offered for sale

    Pennywhistle Modem is offered for sale

    As part of the Community Memory project, Felsenstein developed this early acoustic coupler modem. While he devloped this system in 1973, it was commercialized and offered for sale in 1976.
  • The Sol-20 Computer is released

    The Sol-20 Computer is released

    Unfortunatly for Felsenstein, the computer wasn't as huge of a hit as he imagined it would be. Lee sold approximatley 10,000 of these computers between the years 1977 and 1979.
  • The Osborne 1 is released

    The Osborne 1 is released

    The Osborne 1 was on of the first portable microcomputers ever produced. The computer was developed by Adam Osborne, an author of computer books, and designed by Lee Felsenstein.
  • The World's first wearable computer is demostrated

    The World's first wearable computer is demostrated

    Felsenstein was asked in 1989 to design a wearble computer for Reddy Information Systems. So, Felsenstein did as he was asked and the finished product was unveiled at the 1991 CD-ROM Conference and Exposition.
  • Pemstar Pacific Consultants

    Pemstar Pacific Consultants

    Felsenstein begins to work for Pemstar from 2001 to 2005. While working for Pemstar, Felsensteain design and develops several medical instuments for the company. This was his last paying job.
  • Felsenstein designed a "Pedal Powered Internet"

    Felsenstein designed a "Pedal Powered Internet"

    While working with the Jhai Foundation, Felsenstein designed an "open-source telecommunications computer systems" for use in developing countries.
  • The HackerDojo is Established

    The HackerDojo is Established

    Felsenstein is the "Founding Sensei" of the HackerDojo in Mountain View, California.