Mark Dean Man Behind The First Office Computer

Dr. Mark Dean was an African American straight A student, star athlete in high school and graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1979, top of his class with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.  He furthered his education with a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Florida Atlantic University 3 years later.

Mark Dean went on to work for IBM as chief engineer.  It was then that his team developed the IBM PC/AT under his supervisor.  This creation was the original home office computer.  Dean and his colleague Dennis Moeller developed the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) systems bus.  This is the component that allowed multiple peripheral devices known as modems and printers to be connected to a PC.  It was this design that would enable millions to begin to purchase computers for their homes and small businesses or small business offices. Mark Dean went on to own three of the original nine patents that every PC is based on.  Later he added to his list of inventions the PS/2 Models 70 or 80 and the Color Graphics Adapter.  If not for the adapter that Mark Dean made available through designing it, there would be no ability to have color display on the PC.

Mr. Dean did not stop at his creation and educational achievements.  He went back to school and obtained a PHD in 1992 in Electrical Engineering.  Within five years of his graduation, he became the director of the Austin Research Laboratory and director of Advanced Technology Development for the IBM Enterprise Server Group. He has held numerous high ranking positions in the technology industry.

Here is an interview with Dr. Mark Dean-  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIV3zW6SS-g

Here’s a quick computer of pictures and more information on Dr. Mark Dean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fu185sl5uc

IBM desktop 2 (Photo credit: Jiri Brozovsky)