Tell me about Bob Frankston, the inventor of VisiCalc Bob Frankston is an American computer scientist and software developer who is best known as the co-creator of VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet program. He was born on June 14, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York. Frankston showed an early interest in technology and computers. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ([[MIT]]), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1970. During his time at MIT, Frankston became involved with the hacker community and developed a passion for programming. After graduating from MIT, Frankston worked at Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN), a research firm where he contributed to the development of ARPANET, the precursor to the internet. However, his most significant contribution came when he teamed up with Dan Bricklin to create VisiCalc. VisiCalc, short for "Visible Calculator," revolutionized the world of personal computing. Released in 1979 for the Apple II computer, it was the first electronic spreadsheet program available for personal computers. VisiCalc allowed users to automate financial calculations and data analysis tasks that were previously done manually or on mainframe computers. The success of VisiCalc propelled personal computers into mainstream use and drove sales of Apple II computers. It became one of the most popular software applications of its time and is considered a major milestone in the history of computing. Following VisiCalc's success, Frankston continued to work on various software projects. He co-authored several books on networking and software engineering and held positions at companies like Lotus Development Corporation (later acquired by IBM) and Microsoft. Over the years, Bob Frankston has been an advocate for open systems, network neutrality, and innovative technologies. He believes in empowering individuals through technology and has been critical of closed systems that restrict user control. Today, Frankston remains active in the technology industry as a consultant and speaker. His work on VisiCalc and his contributions to the early days of personal computing have left a lasting impact on the field of software development and computer science. # References ```dataview Table title as Title, authors as Authors where contains(subject, "Bob Frankston") or contains(authors, "Bob Frankston") ```