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Lee Felsenstien was born April 27, 1945 -
Lee's interest's have been sparked in electronics and computer technology -
Lee dropped out of college and continued to work as a engineer at a Amex Cooperation -
Lee Felsenstein became an influential member of the Homebrew Computer Club, an informal group of computer enthusiasts in Silicon Valley -
Felsenstein advocated for making computers more accessible to the general public, envisioning a future where personal computers were not just for businesses but for individuals, educational institutions, and communities. -
In 1975, Felsenstein played a key role in the development of the SOL-20, one of the first personal computers to feature a monitor, keyboard, and built-in BASIC interpreter -
Felsenstein’s work at the Homebrew Computer Club coincided with the release of the Altair 8800 by MITS, which inspired many club members to develop personal computers. -
Felsenstein was directly involved in supporting the development of early personal computers like the Apple I -
Felsenstein helped found The People's Computer Company in 1976, with the aim of providing affordable, accessible computers for individuals and communities. The company focused on education and user engagement with computing technology. -
Felsenstein gave a keynote speech at the First West Coast Computer Faire in 1978, advocating for the vision of the personal computer being a tool for people’s empowerment rather than corporate or government control -
Felsenstein worked closely with Paul Terrell of the Byte Shop to help market personal computers and further the notion of "home computers" for personal use, establishing the idea of computers as household items. -
Felsenstein was involved in the development of the Commodore 64, one of the most successful personal computers of the 1980s. -
Felsenstein’s work on the "Fred" personal computer system offered a revolutionary alternative to the existing personal computing paradigms -
Felsenstein became an early advocate for open-source software, aligning with the growing movement for user empowerment through free and open software development. -
Lee Felsenstein was given the Editors Choice Award for Creative Excellence and recognized by EE Times Magazine