New podcast shares Utah’s fascinating tech history

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SALT LAKE CITY — SoAre you familiar with the 4th Node?

Sounds Like some geek culture or sci-fi esoterica? WellIt’s not entirely off base. Now, the term, which was invented in a historical tech event in 1960s, has been adopted by a new podcast as the title. Utah’s An enduring legacy and key role in the development and advancement of cutting edge technology.

But Let’s start with the basics of the origins of the fourth node.

Back The U.S. government was in mild shock in the 1960s. Russia’s Just a few years ago, the first satellite was successfully launched into space. Then-Secretary Of Defense Robert McNamara stated that the country would launch an unprecedented effort in order to advance computer research. The The effort’s brainchild was the Advanced Research Project Agency This would allow the establishment of 12 research centers at U.S. universities to fund unprecedented amounts in computer science research.

Among One of those research centers was located at the University Of UtahThis was done under the direction and guidance of another pioneer in technology. David Evans, was focusing his attention on man/machine interactions in the agency project. Each Each of the research nodes had hired the best computer scientists at the time. Later in the decade, the need arose for each effort to be connected through an untested concept of real-time electronic communications on a shared system.

The Computer scientist legend. Utah native, John WarnockHe would later co-found the tech giant. Adobe In the 1980s, he was a student at University Of Utah As the first internet version was about to explode.

At A 2019 Silicon Slopes Event in Salt Lake City, Warnock He shared an anecdote on his role in the work that led him to this debut network.

“In 1968 all of the lead investigators came together at Alta, Utah, in Rustlers Lodge,” Warnock said. “I was a (University of Utah) grad student at the time and they invited me to come to this meeting of all the best computer scientists in the world. At that meeting, they approved the communication network that was going to connect all of these centers together and that was the ARPANET … which is now the internet.”

In 1969. University Of Utah became the fourth node on the ARPANET — the first outside of California To join the network (after UCLA), Stanford Research Institute The University Of California Santa Barbara). Per A report about the project is available from the University Of UtahThe effort was led by the then-U. computer science professor Ivan SutherlandAnonymous A.M. Turing Award Winner.

Later That year was the first. “node-to-node” Message between UCLA research labs Stanford It was delivered. “LOGIN” — albeit short and simple — crashed the network after the Stanford Computer only received the “L” And “O.”

According To its creators, discovering the nuggets or stories of Utah’s The mission of the 4th Fourth is to uncover fascinating tech history Node Podcast, which launched earlier this month.

The A new series will be hosted by Utah tech veterans Adam Edmunds And Nico DatoAt the moment, he is chief executive officer (CEO) and chief marketing officer (CMO). LehiInnovative property management software that uses a -based model Entrata.

Edmunds He said that he began hearing stories about pioneering early on in his tech career Utah Companies that formed the basis of a local tech ecosystem would become an economic juggernaut.

“That’s when I started to learn about how Silicon Slopes was built,” Edmunds said. “I heard stories about ARPANET, Evans and Sutherland, Ed Catmull and so many others. At the time, I was just trying to learn as much as I could from different people.”

Idle He was at home during the worst COVID-19 pandemic and before he assumed the role of chief executive officer Entrata, Edmunds It was then that the idea of creating a podcast was born.

“I was thinking about all the things I had learned about the early days, the evolution that led to Silicon Slopes,” Edmunds said. “I wanted to do the podcast to make sure these stories weren’t forgotten.”

The The first few episodes in the fourth season Node Features interviews with some of the key players from the early days. Utah tech scene.

Novell Was one of the first Utah Tech companies that succeed. Originally a company manufacturing computer hardware, it evolved into a business that created networking software for the rapidly growing personal computer market.

Featured The 4th Annual Voices Node’s Episodes about Novell Include Drew MajorChief architect of Novell’s Netware The network operating system was an important innovation that led to the company’s peak valuation of $10Billion. Also In the mix is David BradfordWho was it? Novell’s Chief counsel, and as such, a support to the CEO of the company Ray Noorda Navigate an explosion of growth that took Novell From a boutique Utah County From startup to global tech powerhouse his legal team also launched a legal proceeding against Microsoft That would be a significant U.S. Supreme Court decision on antitrust practices

Major And Bradford Shared stories of Novell’s segue into network software development with Noorda?, University Of Utah At the helm: An electrical engineer with a degree. It It was an innovation that made the personal computer a powerful business tool and pushed the business to the top of the tech world.

Bradford An anecdote was shared that illustrates just how fast it is Novell After its switch to network software in mid-’80s, grew.

“In 1985, if you’d invested $1 dollar in any public company, by 1992 your highest return on that $1 would have been Novell,” Bradford 4 Node podcast.

Bradford Also, it was noted that its peak value was $2.5 billion Novell It was valued at more than any of the U.S. airlines operating at the time, and one of the four most valuable companies worldwide.

AndA preview of a 4th edition Node exploration, Novell Was one of two UtahThis list includes companies based in the United States. Utah County tech firm WordPerThe top four are fect. The Other two companies were Lotus And Microsoft.

Microsoft Figures are largely into Novell’s Thank you to the former-CEO for the story and the most interesting moments of the podcast Bill GatesInterest in purchasing the company, as well as a lot of intrigue and shenanigans that were part of the failed takeover.

Another Early 4th Node Two pioneers of the movement gather at episode Utah Venture capital community Jim Dreyfous And Blake Modersitzki. Dreyfous One of the earliest venture companies in existence UtahThe Utah Tech Venture Fund?, and Modersitzki’s Career arc includes both time at both Novell Word is the original giant of word processing software, and Word was a once great company.Perfect.

Dreyfous And Modersitzki Offer a comprehensive account of the advent of UtahVenture backing for emerging tech innovators, based on the stellar performance of very young. Utah tech companies like NovellWordPerComputer graphics pioneers from fect and even earlier Evans And Sutherland.

“For the first time we reached an economy of scale for talent, money and ideas,” Dreyfous The 4th Node hosts. “Big investors from the coast weren’t scared anymore … and the whole environment changed.”

Dreyfous Would continue to be founded Pelion Venture PartnersWhere is it? Modersitzki Currently, serves as a managing Partner. Pelion This is one of the most venture-heavy hitters in the country. Utah This includes backing a veritable who-‘s, who of Utah These are some of the startup success stories Divvy , Neighbor , MX , Weave Others.

Another Early 4th Node This episode diverts somewhat from the path of Utah Tech history, but still captures a story that is absolutely relevant Utah’s Business and economic history

Gail Miller joins Edmunds And Dato Discuss her husband Larry H. Miller’s His rise to prominence as a car dealer in his early years to building what would be a multichannel regional business powerhouse, which included the NBA’s. Utah JazzThe Salt Lake Bees, a chain of highly successful movie theaters, media firms, real estate, and other companies.

Gail Miller Assumed the role of head of the business empire. Larry Miller’s Death in 2009.

In An intro to the episode Edmunds Notice how significant the deal is Miller Family has been transformed into a resource for the state in business and philanthropy as well as community building and other activities.

“On 4th Node, we’re mostly going to talk about tech,” Edmunds said. “But, Utah wouldn’t be Utah without the Miller family.”

Edmunds And Dato We have plans to release 4th season episodes on a regular basis. Node He said that the podcast can be found almost anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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