TECH – One of the researchers that made possible the birth and development of the internet that we use so much today has died at age 81. Lawrence Roberts, better known as Larry, was one of the managers of ARPA, the Agency for Advanced Research Projects in the United States.

In the late 1960s, he oversaw the creation of a network of connections that linked four universities to each other. This is ARPANET, considered the embryo of what we now call the internet. Roberts was a discrete researcher and had a more management-oriented position, but was essential in lectures and meetings. He convinced universities and even government institutions that such computer-based connections would be the future – and that they were worth the investment. The scientist was also in charge when the e-mail was made official in the early 1970s.

American Larry Roberts was an electrical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and also completed a Ph.D. in the area before joining ARPA in 1966. He died on December 26th because of a heart attack.

After leaving ARPA, which currently won “Defense” in the name and is known as DARPA, Roberts went to the private sector to work with telecommunications companies. He also tried to open his own company in several segments, but failed to achieve the desired success. Still, his importance to the history of the internet and technology is immeasurable.

Source: BBC