Artifact Details

Title

Rudkin, Tom (Thomas A.) oral history

Catalog Number

102740063

Type

Document

Description

Thomas A. Rudkin was a key software developer for PowerPoint from 1986 to 1995, particularly its versions for Microsoft Windows. Rudkin first encountered computers at the University of Kansas in the late 1960s and early 1970s as an undergraduate studying mathematics and philosophy. After earning a degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin, Rudkin joined Intel Corporation in 1976 where he developed software for the microprocessor business. His career in software development continued at Bell Northern Research’s Palo Alto labs, and then at VisiCorp where he helped develop the graphical user interface operating system VisiOn. Rudkin joined Forethought Inc. where he, Robert Gaskins, and Dennis Austin created PowerPoint. After Microsoft’s purchase of Forethought, Rudkin remained a key developer for PowerPoint to 1995. This oral history of Rudkin focuses on his experiences in creating software, most especially PowerPoint.

Date

2015-03-31

Contributor

Brock, David C., Interviewer
Fortier, James, Videographer
Rudkin, Thomas A., Interviewee

Publisher

Computer History Museum

Place of Publication

Mountain View, California

Extent

31 p.

Format

PDF

Copyright Holder

Computer History Museum

Category

Transcription

Subject

Rudkin, Thomas; Software; software industry; Intel Corporation; Bell Northern Research; VisiCorp; VisiOn; presentation software; Forethought, Inc.; PowerPoint; Microsoft

Collection Title

Oral history collection

Credit

Computer History Museum

Lot Number

X7446.2015

Related Records

102740038 Rudkin, Tom (Thomas A.) oral history