Title
Townshend, Brent oral history
Catalog Number
102792696
Type
Document
Description
Canadian inventor and electrical engineer, Dr. Brent Townshend, created a core concept in 1996 that served as the basis for what is known as the 56K bit/sec modem, a groundbreaking technology at the time that allowed for data transfer between two computers at high speeds. Digital modems had been developed in the 1950’s for the purpose of transmitting data for the military. AT&T manufactured the first commercial modem in 1962. with a speed of 300 bits per second. By 1993, modems were performing at around 38.6 kbps, which was considered by many as the maximum speed attainable. Townshend developed an algorithm that enabled 56K downloads from the Internet over standard analog dial-up phone line connections (U.S. Patent No. 5,801,695). This represented a 66 percent improvement over previously existing modems’ performance. In 1998, the V.90 standard that incorporates Townshend’s algorithm was ratified by the International Telecommunications Union. That standard was later updated as the V.92 standard. Brent Townshend is also a world class photographer, a renowned synthetic biologist, and a successful entrepreneur and early-stage company investor. This Oral History interview discusses the career path of Dr. Townshend, and highlights some of his scientific breakthroughs and key technological innovations.
Date
2022-05-25
Contributor
|
Spicer, Dag, Interviewer
|
|
Townshend, Brent, Interviewee
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Publisher
Computer History Museum
Place of Publication
Mountain View, CA
Extent
76 p.
Format
PDF
Category
Transcription
Subject
Digital communication; Signal Processing; Information theory; Modems; Bandwhidth
Collection Title
CHM Oral History Collection
Credit
Computer History Museum
