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{{short description|American computer programmer}}
'''LaFarr Stuart''' was an early [[computer music]] pioneer from northern Utah.
{{Infobox person
|image=<!-- Only freely-licensed images may be used to depict living people; see WP:NONFREE -->
|name=LaFarr Stuart
|caption=
|birth_date={{Birth date|1934|07|06}}
|birth_place=[[Clarkston, Utah]], [[United States]]
|death_date={{death date and age |2021|07|26 |1934|07|06}} <!--(death date then birth date)-->
|occupation=[[Computer engineering]] (retired)
|spouse=
|children=
|website={{URL|http://web.archive.org/web/20200208191002/http://zyvra.org/lafarr}}
}}
'''LaFarr Stuart''' (born July 6, 1934, in [[Clarkston, Utah|Clarkston]], [[Utah]]), was an early [[computer music]] pioneer, [[Computer engineering|computer engineer]] and member of the [[Homebrew Computer Club]].


==Career==
⚫
In 1961, Mr. Stuart programmed [[Iowa State University]]'s [[CYCLONE]] computer (a derivative of the [[Illiac]]) to play simple, recognizable tunes through an amplified speaker that had been attached to the system originally for administrative and diagnostic purposes. A recording of an interview with Mr. Stuart and his music was broadcast nationally on the [[NBC]] [[radio network]] program [[Monitor (NBC Radio)|Monitor]] on February 10, 1962.


⚫
In 1961, Stuart programmed [[Iowa State University]]'s [[Cyclone (computer)|Cyclone]] computer, a derivative of the [[ILLIAC]], to play simple, recognizable tunes through an amplified speaker that had been attached to the system originally for administrative and diagnostic purposes. A recording of an interview with Stuart and his [[computer music]] was broadcast nationally on the [[NBC|National Broadcasting Company]]'s [[NBC Radio Network]] program [[Monitor (radio program)|Monitor]] on February 10, 1962.
⚫
In a subsequent interview with the ''Harold Journal'', [[Navel Hunsaker]], head of the [[Utah State University]] mathematics department, said of Mr. Stuart, "He always was a whiz with calculators."


⚫
In a subsequent interview with the ''Harold Journal'', Navel Hunsaker, head of the [[Utah State University]] mathematics department, said of Stuart, "He always was a whiz with calculators."
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mr. Stuart worked for [[Control Data Corporation]] (CDC) -- where [[Seymour Cray]] designed the CDC 6600, the first commercial supercomputer -- and in the 1980s for [[Zytrex]], which manufactured CMOS [[programmable logic devices]] (PLDs) used in early [[Apple Macintosh]] computers. (When told that Apple Computer had just bought a Cray to help design the next Apple Macintosh, Mr. Cray commented that he had just bought a Macintosh to design the next Cray supercomputer.)

From the late 1970s, Stuart mentored John Carlsen, who later contributed to the rapid growth of [[personal computer]] (PC) sound-card maker [[Media Vision]] and to [[SigmaTel]].

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Stuart worked for [[Control Data Corporation]] (CDC), where [[Seymour Cray]] designed the [[CDC 6600]], the first commercial [[supercomputer]].

During the 1970s, Stuart created a version of the programming language [[Forth (programming language)|Forth]], which became known as LaFORTH.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zyvra.org/laforth/oindex.htm |title=My Forth and Mathematical Stuff |last=Stuart |first=LaFarr |website=Zyvra.org |access-date=2020-03-30}}</ref> It is notable for its implementation without an [[Data buffer|input buffer]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1AlWbXItiCYC&dq=%22LaFarr+Stuart%22&pg=PA63 |title=Thinking Forth |last=Brodie |first=Leo |date=27 December 2004 |publisher=Punchy Publishing |isbn=9780976458708 |access-date=2020-03-30}}</ref>

In the 1980s, Stuart worked for Zytrex, which manufactured ''complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor'' ([[CMOS]]) [[Programmable Array Logic]] (PAL) [[programmable logic device]]s (PLDs).

Stuart conceived installing battery-operated [[real-time clock]]s into computers, for which he received [[royalty payment]]s until nearly 2000. Stuart jokingly admits contributing to the [[Year 2000 problem]].

==Preserving computer history==
Stuart owned the first [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] (DEC) [[PDP-11]] to enter California and often visited the [[Computer History Museum]] in [[Mountain View, California]].


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
* [[E-mu Systems]]
[[Computer History Museum]]
[[Robert Moog]]
* [[Robert Moog]]

⚫
[[E-mu Systems]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|www.zyvra.org/lafarr}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Computer pioneers|Stuart, LaFarr]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, LaFarr}}
[[Category:People from Utah|Stuart, LaFarr]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Control Data Corporation|Stuart, LaFarr]]
[[Category:American computer programmers]]
[[Category:Control Data Corporation]]
[[Category:People from Cache County, Utah]]
[[Category:Computer real-time clocks]]

Latest revision as of 01:11, 2 July 2024

LaFarr Stuart
Born(1934-07-06)July 6, 1934
Clarkston, Utah, United States
DiedJuly 26, 2021(2021-07-26) (aged 87)
OccupationComputer engineering (retired)
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20200208191002/http://zyvra.org/lafarr

LaFarr Stuart (born July 6, 1934, in Clarkston, Utah), was an early computer music pioneer, computer engineer and member of the Homebrew Computer Club.

Career

[edit]

In 1961, Stuart programmed Iowa State University's Cyclone computer, a derivative of the ILLIAC, to play simple, recognizable tunes through an amplified speaker that had been attached to the system originally for administrative and diagnostic purposes. A recording of an interview with Stuart and his computer music was broadcast nationally on the National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network program Monitor on February 10, 1962.

In a subsequent interview with the Harold Journal, Navel Hunsaker, head of the Utah State University mathematics department, said of Stuart, "He always was a whiz with calculators."

From the late 1970s, Stuart mentored John Carlsen, who later contributed to the rapid growth of personal computer (PC) sound-card maker Media Vision and to SigmaTel.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Stuart worked for Control Data Corporation (CDC), where Seymour Cray designed the CDC 6600, the first commercial supercomputer.

During the 1970s, Stuart created a version of the programming language Forth, which became known as LaFORTH.[1] It is notable for its implementation without an input buffer.[2]

In the 1980s, Stuart worked for Zytrex, which manufactured complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) Programmable Array Logic (PAL) programmable logic devices (PLDs).

Stuart conceived installing battery-operated real-time clocks into computers, for which he received royalty payments until nearly 2000. Stuart jokingly admits contributing to the Year 2000 problem.

Preserving computer history

[edit]

Stuart owned the first Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP-11 to enter California and often visited the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Stuart, LaFarr. "My Forth and Mathematical Stuff". Zyvra.org. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  2. ^ Brodie, Leo (27 December 2004). Thinking Forth. Punchy Publishing. ISBN 9780976458708. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
[edit]
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