Robert Metcalfe

For other people named Robert Metcalfe, see Robert Metcalfe (disambiguation).

Robert Metcalfe
Metcalfe in 2004
Born
Robert Melancton Metcalfe

(1946-04-07) April 7, 1946 (age 78)
New York City, U.S.
Alma mater
Known for
SpouseRobyn
Children2
Awards
Scientific career
Fields
Institutions
ThesisPacket Communication (1973)
Doctoral advisorJeffrey P. Buzen

Robert "Bob" Melancton Metcalfe (born April 7, 1946)[2][3] is an American engineer and entrepreneur who contributed to the development of the internet in the 1970s. He co-invented Ethernet, co-founded 3Com, and formulated Metcalfe's law, which describes the effect of a telecommunications network. Metcalfe has also made several predictions which failed to come to pass, including forecasting the demise of the internet during the 1990s.

Metcalfe has received various awards, including the IEEE Medal of Honor and National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his work developing Ethernet technology. In 2023, he received the Turing Award, the highest distinction in computer science.[4] From 2011 to 2021, he was professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Austin.[5]

  1. ^ "Computer History Museum 2008 Fellow Awards". Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  2. ^ "Robert Metcalfe, Inventor Profile". National Inventors Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  3. ^ "Robert M. Metcalfe | IEEE Computer Society". April 2, 2018. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "Bob Metcalfe '69 wins $1 million Turing Award". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. March 22, 2023. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  5. ^ "Inventor of Ethernet and Venture Capital Executive Bob Metcalfe to Lead Innovation Initiatives at UT ECE". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2011.