Donald L. Bitzer, a computer pioneer and 2022 CHM Fellow, passed away. He was the co-inventor of the flat-panel plasma display and the creator of PLATO, the world’s first computer-based education system. PLATO supported thousands of student terminals worldwide, pioneering concepts in multi-user computing like forums, message boards, and multiplayer video games. Bitzer’s work with PLATO laid the groundwork for the online communities we know today. His legacy lives on as a key figure in the history of computer science and education technology.
https://computerhistory.org/blog/in-memoriam-donald-bitzer-1934-2024/