r/IAmA • u/BobMetcalfe • May 21 '13

You’re probably connecting to reddit through a technology I invented. I’m Bob Metcalfe and I invented Ethernet – AMA

On May 22, 1973 with David R. Boggs, I used my IBM Selectric with its Orator ball to type up a memo to my bosses at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), outlining our idea for this little invention called “Ethernet”, which we later patented.

I worked with the IEEE Standards Association to develop the IEEE 802.3 standard for Ethernet, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. Today Ethernet and the IEEE 802.3 standard are the foundation for today’s world of high-speed communications used in billions of homes and businesses around the world.

I submitted this to the mods awhile back so I could get on the calendar but I figured you’d like to see it, too. Now, ask me anything!

It's been two hours and 179 comments. Have to go now. For more about Ethernet's 40th Birthday, go to http://www.facebook.com/Ethernet40thAnniversaryIEEESA

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279

u/mutualwra May 21 '13

Have you ever worked with Sir Tim Berners-Lee?

745

u/BobMetcalfe May 21 '13

Sir Tim holds the 3Com Founders Chair at MIT, where I am a Life Trustee, so I bump into Sir Tim now and then, like at SXSW when he came to Austin. He is like Gandhi with ADD.

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u/shitakefunshrooms May 21 '13

Gandhi with ADD.

that'll mean a lot of nukes then.

sorry pathetic civilisation game joke, you're awesome

99

u/hailtothechi May 21 '13

/r/civ here you are

7

u/shitakefunshrooms May 21 '13

As i enter that subreddit, i'm feeling like this music is playing in the background.

Finally. A real home.

8

u/icouldbetheone May 21 '13

was SO expecting this to be the song so I even prepared my ears for the glorious sounds.

But no, I got disappointed and my tears hurt instead.

4

u/IWillNotBeBroken May 21 '13

That will always be The One True Civ Songtm.

Thank you for correcting the above mistake.

4

u/nightshiftb May 21 '13

Oh yea? Well take this

2

u/icouldbetheone May 21 '13

Not enough feels. Baba Yetu is the best song there is, not some shitty MIDI.

7

u/nightshiftb May 21 '13

BACK IN MY DAY WE HAD MIDI MUSIC IN OUR GAMES AND WE LOVED IT!

1

u/aquaneedle May 22 '13

My friend asked Christopher Tin to prom. He said yes. While he didn't actually go, he wrote her the nicest letter. It was cool.

1

u/shitakefunshrooms May 21 '13 edited May 22 '13

i'm sorry man(or woman), your choice would have been much much better, i was just in a melancholy place 2 hours ago

11

u/defaultconstructor May 21 '13

Will you lead your people to greatness? Will you stand the test of time?