The Joe Reis Show A History of Technology & Computing w/ Bill Inmon and Roger Whatley
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Jan 7, 2026 Bill Inmon, the father of data warehousing, and Roger Whatley, a seasoned technology expert, dive into the rich history of computing. They discuss the motivations behind their book, tracing technologies from the abacus to modern AI. Bill recalls pivotal figures like Amdahl and Hopper while highlighting the industry's maturity challenges. Both share insights into AI's potential and pitfalls, including data trust issues and the risks of bias. Their conversation emphasizes valuing foundational knowledge and adapting to rapid technological changes.
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Honor The Pioneers To Teach Context
- Computing pioneers are widely forgotten and deserve recognition in education.
- Teaching the people and stories behind tech helps students understand why technologies exist.
Curiosity Drove The Book
- Roger pursued computing out of curiosity about where technology came from.
- He wrote the book to connect historical dots from early tools to today's systems.
Hobbyist Hardware Meets Practical Need
- Roger transitioned from Vietnam work to computer science and built microcomputer hardware.
- He created an interface to use an electric typewriter as a letter-quality printer for his microcomputer.
