David J. Farber, a highly influential computer scientist and educator known as the “grandfather of the internet,” died on February 7th in Tokyo at the age of 91. His death, apparently from heart failure, marks the loss of a key figure in the early development of modern digital communication.
From Isolated Machines to a Global Network
Farber’s career began in the mid-1950s at Bell Laboratories, an era when computers operated as isolated units, sharing data only through physical means like Teletype machines or punch cards. His work was instrumental in bridging these gaps, contributing to the merging of computation and communication that ultimately formed the internet. As The New York Times noted, he was an “early architect” of this transformative technology.
Mentoring the Innovators
Farber’s impact wasn’t solely through his research; he profoundly shaped the field by mentoring a generation of students who would become leading figures in internet development. Among them was Jonathan Postel, who would become pivotal in defining the Internet Protocol (I.P.) – the fundamental rules governing how computers exchange data online.
The Pancake House Protocols
Many of the core principles of modern computer communication were refined in informal weekly meetings between Farber and Postel in the early 1970s, held at a Southern California pancake house. This illustrates how crucial early internet infrastructure was forged not in sterile labs, but in casual settings. According to Farber himself, these sessions led to some unintended consequences: “I ended up gaining 10 pounds.”
Farber continued to teach at Keio University in Tokyo since 2018, staying engaged with the field he helped create.
The passing of David J. Farber is a reminder that the internet, now so integral to daily life, was built by visionaries who laid its foundations piece by piece, often in unconventional ways. His mentorship and work were critical in transitioning the world from isolated computing to the interconnected digital landscape we know today.
