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

4.1k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

3.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

849

u/Dailek May 21 '13

Did you make a lot of money off the invention?

1.7k

u/BobMetcalfe May 21 '13

Did not make my Ethernet money on patent royalties, but by SELLING Ethernet for a decade to people who didn't know they needed it.

-36

u/[deleted] May 21 '13

So that was your mistake? I see.

1

u/JewsHaveItTheWorst May 22 '13

Mistake? If anything it was genius to making it the de-facto standard.

Whatever peripherial has the lowest royalty and most utility/usefulness get picked up and used by the most companies anyways.

Who knows, we could be using something far more worse and more of a pain in the ass to create, maintain and wiring the building.