Sophie Wilson
| Sophie Wilson | |
|---|---|
Sophie Wilson giving a presentation on ARM development
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| Born | 1957 (age 59–60) Leeds, Yorkshire, England |
| Residence | Lode, Cambridgeshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Institutions |
University of Cambridge Broadcom Acorn Computers |
| Alma mater | Selwyn College, University of Cambridge |
| Known for |
Acorn Computers BBC Micro ARM architecture BBC BASIC |
| Notable awards |
Fellow of Selwyn College (2016) Fellow of the Royal Society (2013) Computer History Museum Fellow (2012) Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2009) |
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Website www royalsociety |
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Sophie Wilson FRS FREng (born Roger Wilson in Leeds, England, in 1957) is a British computer scientist and software engineer. Wilson designed the Acorn Micro-Computer, the first of a long line of computers sold by Acorn Computers Ltd, including its programming language BBC BASIC. Wilson later designed the instruction set of the ARM processor, which became the de facto model used in 21st-century smartphones.
Wilson was raised in Leeds, Yorkshire, by parents who were both teachers, her father specialising in English and her mother in physics. Wilson studied computer science and the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge. In an Easter break from university, Wilson designed a microcomputer with a 6502 microprocessor inspired by the earlier MK14, which was used to electronically control feed for cows.
In 1978, Wilson joined Acorn Computers Ltd, after designing a device to prevent cigarette lighter sparks triggering payouts on fruit machines. Wilson's computer design was used by Chris Curry and Hermann Hauser to build the Acorn Micro-Computer, the first of a long line of computers sold by the company.
In July 1981, Wilson extended the Acorn Atom's BASIC programming language dialect into an improved version for the Acorn Proton, a microcomputer that enabled Acorn to win the contract with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for their ambitious computer education project. Hauser played a mental game where he told both Wilson and colleague Steve Furber that the other had agreed a prototype could be built within a week. Agreeing to the challenge, Wilson designed the system including the circuit board and components from Monday to Wednesday, which required fast new DRAM integrated circuits to be sourced directly from Hitachi. By Thursday evening, a prototype had been built, but the software had bugs, requiring Wilson to stay up all night and into Friday debugging. Wilson recalled watching the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer on a small portable television while attempting to debug and re-solder the prototype. It was a success with the BBC, who awarded Acorn the contract. Along with Furber, Wilson was present backstage at the machine's first airing on television, in case any software fixes were required. Wilson later described the event as "a unique moment in time when the public wanted to know how this stuff works and could be shown and taught how to program." The Proton became the BBC Micro and its BASIC evolved into BBC BASIC, whose development was led by Wilson for the next 15 years. As well as programming, Wilson wrote the manuals and technical specifications, realising communication was an important part of being successful.
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