Skip to main content

Memorial Tributes Volume 22 (2019) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

J. HALCOMBE LANING
Pages 191-196

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 192...
... . He served in the US Army in World War II and in 1947 joined the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory (later the Draper Laboratory)
Read the entire page →
From page 193...
... It was named "Q-guidance" after the symbol Hal chose to use in his differential equation. After spectacular successes in military fire control systems during World War II and thereafter, "Doc" Draper's MIT Instrumentation Laboratory became "the place to go" for the
Read the entire page →
From page 194...
... For the Apollo program the operating system that Hal developed was a key differentiator between success and failure. The OS included an interpreter and was capable of managing multiple programs simultaneously.
Read the entire page →
From page 195...
... They used what they learned in the development of Fortran. Beginning around 1964 Hal developed an interest in manipulating complex geometric shapes with a computer to enable countless engineering design and manufacturing applications.
Read the entire page →
From page 196...
... One of my favorites is an anecdote from the Apollo program at the MIT Instrumentation Lab. Ralph Ragan, director of the project, became annoyed that people were arriving late for his early-morning weekly senior staff meetings.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • hal developed
  • instrumentation laboratory
  • algebraic compiler
  • instrumentation lab
  • analog electronics

  • apollo program
  • differential equation
  • classified solution
  • command module
  • tial guidance

  • wife helen
  • major contributions
  • former betty
  • lunar landing
  • vector differential

  • engineering drawings
  • cell phone
  • simple solutions
  • tools resulted
  • hal chose

  • draper laboratory
  • thermal properties
  • random processes
  • parallel successful
  • brilliant people

  • engineering design
  • mainframe computer
  • key differentiator
  • severely limited
  • helped pave


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.