William+Higinbotham

= William A. Higinbotham: Tennis for Two =

William A. Higinbotham, born October 25, 1910, was the creator of the first computer game, “Tennis for Two," but he is also credited for being Head of the Instrumentation Division at [|Brookhaven National Laboratory] . Higinbotham received his a degree from Cornell University as a physics graduate, actually saw the first explosion of an atomic bomb, yet felt that he wanted to entertain people as they learned about electronics and instrumentation. Higinbotham helped fund the nuclear non-proliferation group, (though most proud of) Federation of American Scientists, and served as its first chairman and executive secretary. He is also credited for his work on the radar system at MIT until 1943. During World War ll, he provided leadership as head of the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s electronics group.



The history of the game, “Tennis for Two,” is quite interesting because William A. Higinbotham, who wanted to be remembered for nuclear non-proliferation, created it back in 1958 using an analog computer as the processor. He created this for visitors at the Brookhaven National Laboratory to eliminate boredom. Higinbotham figured out how to create the game by analyzing a computer that could calculate missile trajectory. It was the first electronic game using graphical display, and consisted of a tennis court, net, ball, and two opponents on either side. A sound was emitted when the ball was hit, and it took Higinbotham roughly two hours to design the device with Technical Specialist Robert V. Dvorak who actually assembled the device in three weeks.



The entire circuitry of the device minus the oscilloscope and controller was about the size of a small microwave. It was a simple design made from a small analog computer of vacuum tube circuits to chart and show the movements of the ball on an oscilloscope screen. Two players could interact with each other by way of invisible paddles and there was a small line in the center of the screen depicting a net. The controllers where two handheld boxes with a dial and button to send the ball back over the net. The electronic tennis game was on display from 1958 to 1961 until it was dismantled, and the parts were used for other important items.




 * Invention**: Tennis for Two
 * Definition:** Noun/ game trademark
 * Function:** Tennis for Two was created simply to cure boredom amongst visitors at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. It was created on an analog computer oscilloscope, had to two controllers, and the paddles were buttons that were pressed once the ball went over the net.
 * Patent:** Never issued
 * Inventor:** William A. Higinbotham assisted by Robert V. Dvorak

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Higinbotham [] []
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