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Started College at University of California Berkeley
Started college at the University of California Berkeley, majoring in Electrical Engineering. He also joined a co-op work study program for engineering. -
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Started at Ampex
During his hiatus from school, Felsenstein became a Junior Engineer at AMPEX Data Systems. During his time, he designed circuitry, created assembly-language test programs for the DG Nova mini computer, as well as oversaw the production and and analysis of a bias oscillator. -
PYRAMID Project
Felsenstein was transferred to the PYRAMID project, which he was in charge of supporting the audio-video information retrieval system's electronic interfaces. -
Graduated from University of California Berkeley
After going on hiatus from 1968-1974, he returned to finish his degree. -
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Started Engineering at Resource One inc.
Resource One inc. was a nonprofit organization which sought to create a database shared throughout the Bay Area. The nonprofit was founded by Lee Felsenstein, as well as Efrem Lipkin, Ken Colstad , Jude Milhon, and Mark Szpakowski. Their main motive to establish this at the time was due to the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley, and wanting to create an available platform for those in the anti-war and anti-establishment movements. -
Developed the Community Memory Project
Felsenstein developed a public bulletin system by using a Scientific Data Systems SDS-940 mainframe computer. -
Set up the First Community Memory
Community Memory was the first computer-based bulletin board which was set up in Leopold's Records in Berkeley, CA. The purpose of this was for people to communicate with one another about events that were going on, having the same feel of Craigslist today. Felsenstein worked as the -
Volt Technical Services
Felsenstein designed a stand-alone tape cartridge data storage device and created a prototype for it as well. While these are not talked about as much anymore, due to its longevity, tape storage drives are still used in large enterprises for critical data storage. -
Tom Swift Terminal
Felsenstein formed the "Tom Swift Terminal", self-published this, and told it for $0.50. The idea was a terminal that promoted experimentation and customization. -
The Homebrew Computer Club
An early computer hobbyist group which sparked the revolution of personal computing. -
VDM-1
Felsenstein created the terminal system used with the Altair 8800, called the Video Display Module, or VDM-1. This circuit board system attached to a TV, which made it less expensive than the terminals used by hobbyists. -
ROM Magazine
Felsenstein became the West Coast Editor for the magazine, hoping to publish a similar style of the "New Yorker", but centralized on computers. The idea did not take off. -
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Osborne Computer Corp.
Founded Osborne Computer Corp. with Adam Osborne. There, Felsenstein designed the first portable computer. The company later entered bankruptcy in 1983. -
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Developed First Portable Computer
At Osborne Computer Corp., Felsenstein was able to design the first portable computer that was available for mass production. -
Founded Free Speech Movement Archives
Felsenstein founded an online record of the Free Speech Movement, which was a formative time for not only Felsenstein, but for the many people who supported the movement in the 60's.