University professor wins computer pioneer award

03 Jun 2013 Professor Steve Furber, ICL Professor of Computer Engineering in the University of Manchester's School of Computer Science, has been named a 2013 recipient of IEEE Computer Society's Computer Pioneer Award. Professor Furber worked for Acorn Computers in Cambridge during the 1980s and was a principal designer of the BBC Microcomputer, which introduced computers into most UK schools. He was also a principal designer of the first ARM 32-bit microprocessor. Its descendants power most of the world's consumer electronics. More than 44 billion ARM processors have been shipped to date by ARM's semiconductor partners. The Computer Pioneer was established in 1981 by the Board of Governors of the IEEE Computer Society to recognise and honour the vision of those people whose efforts resulted in the creation and continued vitality of the computer industry. The award is presented to outstanding individuals whose main contribution to the concepts and development of the computer field was made at least 15 years earlier.