American electrical engineer and computer scientist
Donald L. Bitzer (born January 1, 1934)[1] is an American electrical engineer and computer scientist. He was the co-inventor of the
plasma display, is largely regarded as the "father of
PLATO", and has made a career of improving classroom productivity by using computer and telecommunications technologies.
Bitzer holds several patents in numerous areas, while the creation of the
PLATO computer system, the first system to combine graphics and
touch-sensitive screens, is the hallmark of his efforts.[3]
Bitzer co-invented the flat plasma display panel in 1964. Originally invented as an educational aid to help students working in front of computers for long periods of time, plasma screens do not flicker and are a significant advance in television technology. The display was also a way of overcoming the limited memory of the computer systems being used.[4]
In 1974, Bitzer was elected as a member into the
National Academy of Engineering for his leadership in the utilization and development of technology for improving the effectiveness of education.
Bitzer is a designated National Associate, an honor which was granted to him by the National Academies in 2002. He is also a member of the
American Society for Engineering Education.[5]
Oral history interview with Donald L. Bitzer,
Charles Babbage Institute,
University of Minnesota. Bitzer discusses his relationship with Control Data Corporation (CDC) during the development of PLATO, a computer-assisted instruction system. He describes the interest in PLATO of Harold Brooks, a CDC salesman and his help in procuring a 1604 computer for Bitzer's use. Bitzer recalls the commercialization of PLATO by CDC and his disagreements with CDC over marketing strategy and the creation of courseware for PLATO.