High School Dropout, Self-Taught Chip Designer

circletimessquare writes "The QVC television shopping network has recently found a hit in its product the C64, which emulates the classic Commodore 64 in a small form factor, a joystick. But the story of the designer of the product is more interesting than the product. Meet Jeri Ellsworth [NYTimes. You know what that means], whose life story emulates the golden age of garage-based computer design. She is proof that the passion of the homebrew electronic hobbyist is still a viable force in an age when well-funded and well-staffed corporate design teams dominate chip design."

Comments

Re:text!

[Octagon Most]

What is this garbage?

(The term "hacker" first referred to people who liked to design and create machines, and only later began to be applied to people who broke into them.)

Bah, hackers are pure evil. It's right there in the Mainstream Media Technology Usage Guide. Although admittedly some of the rules are brazenly flaunted lately, like the requirement to preface all references to Apple with "embattled computer maker." But still, one would expect better from the NY Times.

Re:Don't Need School to be Educated.

[pdxaaron]

But just like driving on the road you don't always need a Map common since and some exploring will help you get to your location as well, sometimes (usually) a little longer then normal but sometimes a lot quicker.

Your map must have led you on a detour around Grammarsville, straight through Run-On-Sentencetown.

Female geek, engineer?

[l4m3z0r]

Being a graduating electrical engineer, ham radio operator, and of the female persuasion...

So.. uh.. how do you feel about dating guys you meet on /.?

Re:Yes but...

[ShawnDoc]

Jeri was not born female. Sorry guys. (And no this is not a joke or a troll. I'm just trying to save people from embarassing themselves more)

Re:Yes but...

[ShawnDoc]

I went to school with Jeri. Then known as JJ or Jay. He went to Dallas High School. He was a huge C64 nut, and wrote his own BBS software of which I used to help him beta test. I don't believe he ever finished it. He was the one who introduced me to the local Commodore 64 UG in Salem. His dad owned the local BP gas station, and JJ built his own race car there. He got a sex change a few years back.

It's not big deal. I just hate seeing people objectifing him and posting links to wanna be up-skirt photos. I just figure it's easier to mention he used to be a guy then it is to try and convince the people posting these things that its wrong to objectify a woman like they are doing.

And for the curious, Jeri has a live in girlfriend/wife who could probably kick the ass of the typical slashdotter.

Re:No Reg Required...

[iamhassi]

"You just say that because she's looking up at you."

true... I do like that view best of women.... cuz there's usually only one thing they're doing when they're looking up at me... and no, not tying my shoe....