Alan Kay

Alan Kay, born May 17, 1940, is an American computer scientist best known for his pioneering work in object-oriented programming and personal computing. During the 1970s, he led the development of the Xerox Alto, the first computer designed for individual use, which featured a graphical user interface (GUI). Kay also conceived the Dynabook, a portable educational device, which greatly influenced the development of laptops and tablets. In 2003, he received the Turing Award for his contributions to the field of computer science, particularly for his work on Smalltalk, an object-oriented programming language that became foundational for modern software development. Kay's innovative vision and practical implementations have left an indelible mark on technology.