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Birth
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. -
Started Schooling at MIT
After he skipped his last 2 years of high school, Kotok started his education in electrical engineering at MIT. He would graduate in four years with both a bachelor's degree and his graduate's. -
Developed Kotok-McCarthy Machine
Using his jury rigging experience from the Tech Model Railroad Club, alongside his freshman programming teacher, created a chess program "comparable to an amateur with about 100 games experience" [(Kotok)](www.kotok.org/) out of electrical parts lying around at MIT. This is the most notable event in Kotok's education, as it showed his commitment to his field. -
Took First Programming Course
Under the renowned John McCarthy, Kotok took the first programming course ever offered by MIT. -
Rewrote PDP-1 Assembler
During Kotok's schooling, a copy was made of one of the earliest multi-purpose computers, the PDP-1 (Programmed Data Processor), and Kotok was given the opportunity to help rewrite its assembler. -
Contributed to the Development of Spacewar!
During his time at MIT, alongside his fellow members of the Tech Model Railroad Club, Kotok helped see to the development of Spacewar!, debated to be the first video game ever. -
Graduated MIT with a Graduate Degree
Concluded his tireless schooling at MIT, after rushing through both a bachelor's degree and then his graduate's. As was expected from his past successes, he finished both of these early. -
Work at Digital Equipment Corporation
Was hired immediately after school, and would end up working at DEC for the next 34 years. -
Optimized DEC Debugging Tape
Optimized DEC's standard debugging program based on a tape system. -
Kotok-McCarthy Meets ITEP
Kotok's simple chess program he wrote in college was sent to the Soviet Union to be tested against one written by a Soviet Professor, who took the inspiration from Kotok. Kotok's lost. -
Became Member of a Science Advisory Board
Was accepted as a board member of the Science Advisory Board at the Cylink Corporation. -
Work at Compaq
Began work as a consultant at Compaq, which sells computer products. -
Retired from DEC
After 34 years at the same company, Kotok retires to focus on leaving a more lasting legacy in the field of technology. -
Work at GC Tech Inc.
Kotok became vice president of the marketing department at GC Tech Inc. -
Work at World Wide Web Consortium
Joined W3C as an associate chairman, to assist in regulating certain practices used regarding internet web storage. -
Hosted Conference on Internet Payments
Coordinated and hosted an informal networking meeting focused around the importance of how payments can be made safely through the internet. -
Death
Died in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
