Bill Gates
The New Revolutionary Creator
by
Michael Fairman




Introduction

Throughout my journey in this honors seminar, I have read about several creators (in Creating Minds) who were pioneers or masters in their respective domains. Each of these creators (Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Graham, and Ghandi) was researched by Howard Gardner who then classified each one as representing one of his seven intelligences (Intrapersonal, Logical/Mathematical, Visual/Spatial, Musical, Verbal/Linguistic, Kinesthetic, and Interpersonal). Interestingly, one of the main reasons he chose those particular individuals as representatives of each intelligence was due to the fact that they had all lived within a certain time period and had made some of their most significant breakthroughs in the early part of the 20th century. Their names and their work still live on today (even long after their deaths). They have been some of the most influential people whose works have helped to shape our perceptions of our art, music, literature, dance, ourselves, each other, and the very fabric of the universe itself. However, many critics of Gardner's work asked why he chose the people he did. "Why didn't he choose Beethoven for Musical or James Joyce for Verbal/Linguistic?" Now that our class has finished studying each of these creators, each one of us has the opportunity to research and write about a creator whom we think should be included in Gardner's book. While I recognize that there have been many creators from the past who could be included, I find myself asking the question "What about creators who are living right now? What about those who are shaping our perceptions, ideologies, and society right before our own eyes?" Along with that, who would be someone interesting with whom I could identify? I had considered various famous people who are masters in their domain. Then as I logged onto my Internet service provider I saw a news blotter about the Microsoft Trial with a picture of Bill Gates seated before Congress. Then the "light bulb" illuminated itself above my cranium. "Bill Gates would be perfect. He is the co-founder of Microsoft, a multi-billionaire, has some form of his company's software running in almost every computer in the world, and seems to demonstrate a high degree of Logical/Mathematical intelligence. As I did some preliminary research, I discovered that he fit the Gardner model for demonstrating creativity in his particular domain very well. (Besides, I feel that I owe him some way; afterall, his company did design both the operating system that my computer uses, not to mention the very word processing program that I am using to write this paper. Thanks, Mr. Gates.)

Childhood
William H. Gates, III was born into a wealthy Seattle family in 1955. His father is an attorney and his mother is a University of Washington Regent and director of First Interstate Bank. Much of his early childhood was characterized as "rebellious." Perhaps this was due to the sibling rivalry he experienced with his older sister. In any case, his parents enrolled him in Lakeside, an academically rigorous private school in Seattle. His parents encouraged academic success by rewarding him and his sister with 25 cents per each A they earned. (Rensin 18) However, young Bill continued to get average grades until the eighth grade. At that point, he decided that he wanted to get good grades and then decided to focus his energy into doing just that. After his sister discovered the opposite sex, Bill remarked: "She never got straight A's again."(Resnin 18) Although he proved to himself that he could get straight A's, he continued to maintain a straight A average throughout his schooling. In addition to getting good grades, Bill and his sister (2 years his senior) were encouraged to read a lot by their parents. He was not permitted to watch television on weeknights during his schooling.
When he first started school (public school) he was often characterized as a "class clown" or "goof-off." However, when he entered Lakeside, that same sense of humor often got him into trouble. Interestingly, whenever he got into trouble at school, his parents would send him to a psychiatrist. His first visit began when he was 11 and he continued seeing him for about one and a half years. The psychiatrist pointed out to Bill that he didn't have to fight for his parents love through his rebellious behavior. The psychiatrist was often carry on discussions with young Bill and then give him books on psychology to read to make him start thinking. His interlude with the psychiatrist, helped to put Bill on the path to success.

Computer Beginnings
In the late 1960's the Lakeside Mothers' Club (among whom his own mother) made a decision that would affect the course of the computer software industry: They used the proceeds from a rummage sale to buy an interface terminal and computer time for the students at Lakeside. At 13, Bill wrote his first software program: Tic-Tac-Toe. With this new terminal, he and several other students could play Tic-Tac-Toe against the computer. However, this process could be considered cumbersome. There was no monitor--only a keyboard and a printing machine. Each time they made a move, they would have type it at the keyboard and then rush over to the printer to see the results. Although, playing one game on the computer often used their entire lunch period (compared to matter of seconds with a pencil and paper), he was entranced with the machine. Reflecting back, "There was just something neat about the machine." He was fascinated that he could actually give the machine instructions and it would carry them out perfectly every time.
Eventually the Mothers' Club grant ran out and students had to pay for the time which they spent using the computer interface. Access to the mainframe cost $40 per hour. While Bill's parents would pay for his tuition and take care of his basic needs, they left it up their son find a way to buy access time. So Bill and his good friend Paul Allen (later co-founder of Microsoft) would take summer jobs working for computer companies as programmers. They would run software the company created and look for "bugs" and fix them. This turned out to be very lucrative for the young students as they earned as much as $5,000 in cash and computer access time. (Gates 12) Gates also wrote a computer program for his school as he reflects: "One of the early programs I wrote, not for money, was for Lakeside. It scheduled students in classes. I surreptitiously added a few instructions and found myself nearly the only guy in a class full of girls."(Gates 12).
In 1972, Intel released the first microprocessor called the 8008. It was small, but extremely powerful. Bill and Paul wondered if they could write a BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Instructional Code) program for the little chip. However, the chip wasn't able to handle that many complex instructions. Despite this, Bill and Paul discovered that they could use the chip in a machine that could analyze traffic data. "We called our first company 'Traf-O-Data.' We thought that the name was sheer poetry." (Gates 14) Although it performed its function well and was tested by several cities, no one wanted to buy it. Discouraged they continued on with their education. Bill attended Harvard and began majoring in economics. However his interest in computer software had not diminished.

A Crucial Decision
In 1974, Intel released an improved version of the 8008 microprocessor, the 8080. This processor had 10 times the power of the original. Bill and Paul discovered that it was capable of being programmed using BASIC. Soon they were sending out letters to various computer companies offering to write programs for the new chip but without success.
Then the first minicomputer kit debuted in the winter of that same year--the Altair 8800. What was so important about this computer was that it contained Intel's 8080 microprocessor. Bill and Paul realized that if this computer hit the market, their dreams of creating software could be squelched. So they decided to go ahead and write a program for the computer based on its manual. After 5 long weeks they had created the programming software for this computer. Realizing that their claim in the software industry was at stake, Bill left Harvard and Paul quit his programming job at Honeywell to start what would later be called Microsoft.

A Fledgling Company
The company was first based in Albuquerque, New Mexico (the site of the manufacturer of the Altair Computer). There, they created software for the Altair in exchange for royalty. However, the company that owned the Altair was bought out and Bill and Paul had to fight to receive their royalties. By 1977, many companies had entered the personal computer (PC) market including Apple, Commodore, and Radio Shack. Bill went to each of the companies and would try to sell a software license. Microsoft would receive a small royalty for each computer sold that used their software. As the PC market grew, they would license their software for almost $100,000. Many companies balked at that figure at first, but Bill was able to convince them that "that was cheap" compared to how much it would cost for them to develop their own software. Thus Microsoft was up and running. Soon after, Microsoft was writing programs for Japan and even worked with the Japanese in the creation of the first laptop computer. (Gates 49)

A Major Deal
In 1980, IBM asked Microsoft to develop software that could be used to operate a new personal computer that they were thinking of making. So Microsoft undertook the job and created Microsoft Disk-Operating System or MS-DOS. In an attempt to open the door to future programs based on this system, Microsoft sold the software outright to IBM for about $80,000 in the hope that IBM could distribute it widely and inexpensively to consumers. This tactic worked. In comparison with the other operating systems, MS-DOS was the least expensive and soon the most widely marketed. Because IBM created its PC out of relatively common hardware and bought its microprocessors from Intel, it left an opening for other computer makers to make "clones" of it. This proved to be extremely beneficial to Microsoft as more and more computer companies came to Microsoft asking the company to develop the software for their computers. IBM and DOS soon became the rage in the computer industry.

A Visual Operating System
In 1984, Apple released its Macintosh computer. Microsoft helped to develop the software for the computer. What made this computer so extraordinary, what that it had a graphical user interface. Instead of having to type in commands using a keyboard and function keys, this system implemented screens that contained menus which contained the various operations the computer could perform. With the use of a rolling clicking device called a mouse, users could move a cursor to select what they wanted their computer to do. Apple soon became the rage as it simplified the running of software such that someone did not have to speed typist or programmer to use it.

The Advent of Windows
With the popularity of Macintosh, Microsoft began to develop its own visual interface: Windows. It appeared very similar to the operating system used by Macintosh except that it was built on top of the existing DOS so that older programs could be run as well as new software designed for Windows. Windows became the rage in the early 1990's and soon reclaimed much of the market that IBM had lost to Macintosh. Throughout the early 1990's, Microsoft continually put forth new versions improving on its predecessor.

The Internet
By the mid 1990's, the Internet was beginning to really take off. Microsoft realized that in order to assure themselves a place in this market they needed to completely revamp Windows. So by 1996, Microsoft had created the newest version of Windows called Windows 95. This system provided accessibility options to the Internet and creating local computer networks. It also made upgrading the hardware in computers almost as simple as "plug-and-play." During this time, Microsoft was also releasing versions of its Web browser called Internet Explorer in response to Netscape's' Navigator. Over the past two years, Microsoft has continued to improve its web browser in response to the increasing popularity of the Internet and the new applications being created for it. Its browser is also used by several Internet Service Providers such as America Online. Microsoft has also improved on its operating system with the recent release of Windows 98 which allows computers to become even more connected to the Internet and is able support several of its applications. Essentially, the operating system appears like a web browser.


Trials and Tribulation

Currently the business practices of Microsoft are under scrutiny by the Department of Justice. The Justice Department is accusing Microsoft of trying to monopolize the web browser industry. Many people are divided on the issue. Some think that corporation is being attacked because it is so successful while others fear that Microsoft might actually monopolize the industry and be able to sell its products at outrageous prices. Bill Gates offers his opinions on the trial each day on the Microsoft Home Page http://www.microsoft.com. He also remains open to customer comments and ideas.

Relevance to Gardner
So how does the life of Bill Gates fit into the Gardner model? Is he a genuine creator? How do the events in his life fit into Gardner's model of creativity.

Support
As a child Bill was encouraged to strive for success. His parents wanted him to utilize his talents and realize his potential. They intervened in his education by placing him in an accelerated school. Bill was also rewarded for his good grades. His parents cared about his success so much so that they had go to a psychiatrist for counseling during his rebellious youth in the hope that he could focus his energy into his studies. His mother provided him (as well as classmates) with access a computer. His parents also supported his decision to start Microsoft despite the possibility of failure.
Bill also had a network of friends who shared his interest in computers at his school. Foremost of which was Paul Allen who worked with Bill to help establish Microsoft. They had a dynamic working relationship that made success the only option. While Allen handled the hardware aspects, Bill focused on developing the programming for the computers. This friendship has proved very successful in both the emotional support Bill required as well as in the domain in which he was working.

Master of Domain
Bill (along with Allen) had created a new domain for the computer. Their software for running microprocessors ultimately led to the creation of personal computers for general use. They helped to bring computer technology to the average consumer through their programs. Their operating systems created a new market as well as many new possibilities for computers. Although other software companies offered their own operating system software, Bill made sure to keep pushing ahead to improve his own and even create new uses for it. It was this ambition that allowed Bill to move ahead of his competitors and dominate the industry.

Development of Code
His software in essence was a new code. It allowed minicomputers to realize their full potential. His programs such as DOS and Windows (although based on recognized programming languages) allowed other programs to be run on these minicomputers including programs, often taken for granted today, such as word processing; spreadsheet; and database. Each new program he created was a platform in which new information could be created and manipulated (i.e. using a word processor to write a Nobel Prize winning piece of literature).

Concept of Marginality
When first starting out Microsoft, he moved the operation to Albuquerque. This was where the company that was making the Altair personal computer was based. This place was the center of creativity for personal computer software at the time because that was the company making them. However, after the company was bought out, he relocated the business to Seattle.

10 Year Rule of Creativity
It could be said that he made a major breakthrough every 10 years with smaller ones interspersed. The first one was the creation of an operating system for the Altair computer. This success was the beginning of future successes to follow. A second breakthrough occurred with creation of DOS about 5 years later. Then the creation of Windows about 5 years after that. Then the creation of Windows 95 and Internet Explorer. While all of this was not done only by Bill, he certainly played a major role in its development.

Faustian Bargain/End of Creativity
Bill has not given up creating. In fact he has extended it with the creation of Microsoft. He is committed to hiring "creative, energetic, smart, and enthusiastic" people to work there. Bill constantly drives himself and others to create new programs and come up with new ideas and new uses for technology. He is also extending his software into other domains such as cable television and Hollywood in the hope that they will find new uses for the new technology. His ultimate goal is to one day have everyone connected to a network of computers that allow them access to almost any kind of information or resource from their own computers.



Conclusion

Bill Gates has played a major part in shaping our present lives. His desire to bring PC's to the homes of consumers has been realized. Partly owing to the advances in computer hardware, but mostly owing to his keen economic insight and gifted ability to create computer software. How history will ultimately cast Bill Gates is still undetermined. Despite all the criticisms of him and his company, I hope that Bill Gates will be recognized a genuine historical creator and have his name placed among the ranks Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Graham, and Ghandi.

Resources
Bill Gates Biography Page: Http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/bio.htm

Gates, Bill. (1996). The Road Ahead (2nd e.). New York: Penguin Books.

Rensin, David. (1994). The Bill Gates Interview. Playboy Magazine. (accessed through Britannica Online).

Sulloway, Frank. (1993). Creating Minds. New York: Basic Books.