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Born in Fitchburg Massachusetts
Samson was born on January 1st, 1941, in Fitchburg Massachusetts. -
Joins the Tech Model Railroad Club (TMRC)
Samson joined the TMRC within the first week of school his freshman year. Initially, he was very interested in trains and subways, however he fell in love with the circuitry around the trains and focused within the Signals and Powers Subcommittee. (Levy page 6) -
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Samson's studies at MIT
This is the timespan in which Peter Samson bagan to make a name for himself. Coming into MIT as a freshman, he joined the TMRC and flourished in the S&P Subcommittee where he generated his love for computers. -
Creation of TMRC Dictionary
Samson and a few others part of the TMRC decided to write a dictionary of terms commonly used by the TMRC hackers at the time. Samson defined the term hack as "an article or project without any constructive end." Link text -
Develops Music Program on TX-0
Among the other hackers at MIT, Samson decided he wanted to create a program which will make various different sounds. This program utilized the timing between the data changes within the accumulator to sufficiently produce a 'song' of different pitches in succession. He also incorporated a way in which the user can choose a song by writing it with the light pen. Link text -
Creates Harmony Compiler
Samson goes on to develop a compiler in which the music being compiled can be read by the PDP-1. This allowed users play music on the PDP-1 now instead of the TX-0 which he originally created. Link text -
Develops Constellation algorithm for SpaceWar!
Samson, during the development of the game 'Spacewar!', did not like the idea that the stars were randomly generated. He created an algorithm in which mapped out real constellations to the screen giving it more reality. -
TJ-2
Samson created a Type Justifying Program (TJ-2) which is essentially one of the first word processor programs created. -
Joins the DEC
Samson joins the DEC in 1964 and makes various different contributions while working with them. Link text -
Samson Develops Compiler for PDP-6
After joining the DEC, Samson then developed a version of the FORTRAN compiler that is able to run on the PDP-6. Link text -
Develops Scheduling Program for PDP-6
Samson would go on to create a software for the PDP-6 including a mapping of all of the real time schedules for the New York Subway System. Link text -
Joins Systems Concepts, Inc.
Stationed in San Francisco, Samson joined Systems Concepts inc. where he was in higher position than he was at DEC. Link text -
Joins NASA
in 1975, Samson moved to work for Nasa, where he was in charge of the the oversaught of manufacturing for a majority of the hardware products used. Link text -
Receives patent for copyright
When Samson moved to AUTODESK Inc, he received a big patent while working there with the number 5287408. He developed a software where the computer could recognized if an unauthorized copy of data passes through it. Link text -
Rebuilt Spacewar!
During the computer restoration project, Samson redesigned spacewar! to work on the new machines they had built. Link text -
Becomes Docent at the Computer History Museum
In present day, Samson will show up frequently at the Computer History Museum and contributed to the PDP-1 restoration project. Link text