Raymond M. Holt is a computer designer and businessman in Silicon Valley.
From 1968 to 1970, Ray and his brother Bill Holt were on the
Garrett AiResearch
Garrett AiResearch was a manufacturer of turboprop engines and turbochargers, and a pioneer in numerous aerospace technologies. It was previously known as Aircraft Tool and Supply Company, Garrett Supply Company, AiResearch Manufacturing Compa ...
's small design team that developed the world's first
microprocessor
A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of integrated circuits. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circu ...
chip set, the 20-bit
Central Air Data Computer
An air data computer (ADC) or central air data computer (CADC) computes altitude, vertical speed, air speed, and Mach number from pressure and temperature inputs. It is an essential avionics component found in modern aircraft. This computer, rath ...
(CADC), for the
F-14
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American carrier-capable supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, twin-tail, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program after the ...
Tomcat.
The CADC was never deployed for any other purpose, thereby leaving room for the 4-bit
Intel 4004
The Intel 4004 is a 4-bit central processing unit (CPU) released by Intel Corporation in 1971. Sold for US$60, it was the first commercially produced microprocessor, and the first in a long line of Intel CPUs.
The 4004 was the first signific ...
to become the first ''commercially'' produced microprocessor.
Holt's story of the design and development of the CADC is presented in a podcast and a ''Wired'' article.
Holt was co-founder with Manny Lemas of
Microcomputer Associates, Incorporated,
[old-computers.com museum]
/ref> later known as Synertek Systems
Microcomputer Associates, Inc., was founded by Manny Lemas and Ray Holt. It produced the low-cost Jolt Microcomputer, released in 1975. Microcomputer Associates introduces the 6502 based Jolt computer kit for $249. It was later acquired by semi ...
where he designed the Jolt, Super Jolt and SYM-1
The SYM-1 is a single board "trainer" computer produced by Synertek Systems in 1975. It was designed by Ray Holt. Originally called the VIM-1 (Versatile Input Monitor), that name was later changed to SYM-1.
The SYM-1 is a close copy of the pop ...
microcomputer cards as well as the first microcomputer pinball game, Lucky Dice, using the Intel 4004. One of Holt's computer boards, the SYM-1, was used in the first two military robots, Robart I and Robart II.
Holt is the founder and president of Mississippi Robotics,non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
serving rural schools and ministries in Mississippi, teaching a STEM/Robotics curriculum and holding robot competitions twice a year.
References
External links
First Microprocessor website
Jolt Microcomputer
American computer scientists
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
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