Ellis, Clarence 'Skip'

1943-2014 · Contribution: 1970s-1990s

Computer scientist

First African American to earn a PhD in computer science (1969); pioneer of groupware and computer-supported cooperative work -- at Xerox PARC created OfficeTalk and pioneered operational transformation, the foundation of modern real-time collaborative editing (e.g., Google Docs); first Black Fellow of the ACM (1997)

Technology & Engineering

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Born: 1943, Chicago, Illinois
Active since: 1969
Category: Technology & Engineering
Best known for: First African American to earn a PhD in computer science

Impact on the world

Ellis pioneered groupware, software that lets people work together on a computer at the same time, laying the groundwork for the collaborative editing billions now use.

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University of Illinois (CS @ Illinois)
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