Michael Roth (cyberneticist)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Roth (2017)

Michael Roth (born June 18, 1936 in Kleinlomnitz , Czechoslovakia ; † July 23, 2019 in Ilmenau ) was a German engineer and professor of automation , specializing in microprocessor technology, computer science and society as well as philosophy of science . He was one of the pioneers of computer technology in Germany.

Life

Roth initially completed vocational training as a locksmith and as a programmer . He began his university studies in 1957 at the Technical University of Ilmenau in the field of electrical engineering and deepened it in particular in the subject of control engineering with Karl Reinisch . In 1963 he obtained the academic degree of Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl.-Ing.). He then worked as a scientific assistant at the Institute for Computer Technology in Ilmenau . This activity he graduated in 1967 with the promotion for Doktoringenieur (Dr.-Ing.) Successfully. The dissertation was developed in the field of computer technology for hybrid computer design . It represented an essential basis for his later research profile. He then completed additional studies at the Moscow Energy Institute in 1967/68 .

Roth was appointed as a university lecturer (equivalent to C3 professor ) at the Technical and Biomedical Cybernetics (TBK) section of the TH Ilmenau in 1970 (Director: Karl Reinisch ). There, in cooperation with specialist committees in the Chamber of Technology and the electronics industry in Thuringia, he developed the new field of "microcomputer technology", represented it as an independent subject and published several books on this subject.

Roth promoted the market launch of microcomputer technology not only with his research and development work, but also through his participation in further training measures for this industrial technology as well as through special book publications. As a scientist, he mainly dealt with questions relating to the development of components and tools for intelligent automation systems.

In 1978 he was appointed full professor for automation and technical cybernetics at the TH Ilmenau. This appointment corresponded to his knowledge and experience at the time. He later expanded the training of engineers with degrees in the specialization for microprocessor technology, which was rare in the German-speaking countries at the time, with his new courses and supported them with special textbooks.

The cooperation with his professor colleagues - which also included the computer center with its director Reinhold Schönefeld - resulted in extensive research and internship facilities for microprocessor technology at the TH Ilmenau at industry-related level, which represented a unique selling point compared to comparable university facilities in German-speaking countries. Roth thus contributed to the development and profiling of teaching and research at the Technical and Biomedical Cybernetics Section . At the same time he worked on the technology transfer to the surrounding computer companies.

During his tenure, Roth developed various microcontroller applications and implementations. He gained experience in the programming languages and in dealing with the associated development tools as well as hardware and software components. The use of visualization systems was made for efficient human-machine communication . Work for use in practical applications and demonstration objects expanded his knowledge and experience in the field of programming. Furthermore, he acquired a sound level of knowledge in the field of data communication and the related sub-areas.

Roth by no means saw this subject as technologically complete. Therefore, he worked permanently on the scientific preparation for future solutions in close contact with industrial and research partners. Through his committee work in the "Society for Computer Science of the GDR" (chairman: Gerhard Merkel ) together with specific book and magazine publications, he was able to contribute to the fact that the new subject "microprocessor technology" received GDR-wide attention.

In addition, Roth has been interested in an overarching view of scientific developments since his early years. So in 1986 he did his habilitation thesis at the TU Dresden in the field of philosophy of science .

Scientific functions

Roth was initially head of the information processing science department in the TBK section. He was then appointed director of this section from 1975 as the successor to Siegfried Pilz ; Manfred Günther succeeded him in this office from 1983 . On the basis of his specialized research work, he became a co-founder of the technical informatics / computer technology course. In addition, he was the founder of the post-graduate course to specialize in microprocessor technology.

Roth was the founder and publisher of the specialist journal “ MP Mikroprozortechnik ” at Verlag Technik Berlin. He described the lengthy processes involved in establishing this establishment under GDR conditions during an evening discussion at a technical committee meeting of the Chamber of Technology in Angelroda in April 1982 : He was involved for 15 years until a small edition of "Microprocessor Technology " was allowed to appear. It was not allowed to be called “computer science”, since SED politburo member Günter Mittag saw this as a “western term”. The paper contingent counter-argument had to be overcome as well as the allegation that VEB Verlag Technik had not had a new magazine for 28 years.

His work as a co-founder of the journal Ethik und Sozialwissenschaften , a discussion forum for the culture of consideration at the Westdeutscher Verlag, illustrates his ability to think outside the box ( lateral thinking ) and his interest in questions of the future.

Roth was for many years State Chairman of Thuringia in the Association of Universities and Science (VHW) in the German Association of Civil Servants, at the same time a member of the federal board of the VHW in Bonn (former chairman: Reinhard Kuhnert ).

Roth acted as an appraiser in the Expert Council "Delphi Forecast" of the Fraunhofer Society .

Work areas

Michael Roth covered a wide range of areas of work:

  • Automation technology
  • Technical cybernetics
  • Computer technology
  • Computer science and society
  • Information society
  • Knowledge society
  • Evolution of society as well
  • Universities and colleges.

Roth has given numerous lectures on his research results at scientific events and trade fairs, some of which he initiated and helped to organize himself. His scientific publications also reflect his teamwork and comprise over 100 papers, including several books with up to five editions. At the same time, he worked on various reports.

Publications (selection)

  • Use of non-linear structures in controllable high-speed operational amplifiers. Dissertation, TH Ilmenau, Faculty for Scientific and Technical Basics, Ilmenau 1967.
  • Electronic components of technical cybernetics. In: Functional units of technical cybernetics, 8th teaching letter (F 77/8), teaching letters for distance learning from universities, ed. from the Central Office for Distance Learning at the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education 1974.
  • Electronic analog and hybrid functional units. In: Functional units of technical cybernetics, 10th teaching letter (F 77/10), teaching letters for distance learning from universities, ed. from the Central Office for Distance Learning at the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education 1974.
  • with Werner Kriesel : Electronic digital functional units. In: Functional units of technical cybernetics, 11th teaching letter (F 77/11), teaching letters for distance learning from universities, ed. from the Central Office for Distance Learning at the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education 1974.
  • Microprocessors. Essence, technology, further development, structure, programming, application. Scientific journal and chamber of the technical university section at the TH Ilmenau, Ilmenau 1977, 2nd and 3rd edition 1978, 4th edition 1979, 5th edition, KDT-Bezirksverband, Suhl 1980.
  • with Todor Shergowski, Walter Krug: Memory circuits in microprocessor technology. Institute for Film, Image and Sound, Berlin 1982.
  • with Todor Shergowski, Walter Krug: Function blocks of selected microprocessors. Institute for Film, Image and Sound, Berlin 1982.
  • with Todor Shergowski, Ilse Renner: Peripheral circuits in microprocessor technology. Institute for Film, Image and Sound, Berlin 1983.
  • Evolution and cooperation - humans and intelligent automatons (analyzes and hypotheses). Habilitation (Dissertation B), Technical University, Dresden 1986.
  • Michael Roth (Hrsg.): Contributions to microcomputer technology. Verlag Technik, Berlin 1986, ISBN 3-341-00150-6 .
  • with Helga Schwietzke: microprocessor architectures. Institute for Film, Image and Sound, Berlin 1988.
  • The intelligent machine - the computer as an expert. Urania-Verlag, Leipzig; Jena; Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-332-00219-8 .
  • with Klaus Kaplick, Dieter Orlamünder, Heinz Bergmann: Computertechnik from A to Z. Ed .: Jochen Horn. Fachbuchverlag, Leipzig 1990, ISBN 3-343-00563-0 .
  • Universities - colleges: academic - technological? Association of University and Science, VHW-Mitteilungen 1/1994.
  • Fundamental characteristics of the social evolution to the knowledge society. Association of University and Science, VHW-Mitteilungen 10/1997.
  • Postulates on the change from a high-tech industrial society to a high-organizational knowledge society. In: Christiane Floyd , Christian Fuchs, Wolfgang Hofkirchner (Ed.): Steps to the information society. Festschrift for Klaus Fuchs-Kittowski's 65th birthday . Peter Lang - European Science Publishing House, Frankfurt am Main; Berlin; Bern; Bruxelles; New York; Oxford; Vienna 2002, ISBN 3-631-37642-1 .
  • The future of the “university in the knowledge society”. In: Klaus Fuchs-Kittowski ; Rainer E. Zimmermann (Ed.): Cybernetics, Logic, Semiotics. Philosophical points of view. Conference on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Georg Klaus . trafo Wissenschaftsverlag, Berlin 2015 (Treatises of the Leibniz Society of Sciences, Vol. 40), pp. 425–440, ISBN 978-3-86464-095-7 .
  • Immune systems in biological, information technology and social evolution. In: Frank Fuchs-Kittowski ; Werner Kriesel (Ed.): Computer science and society. Festschrift for the 80th birthday of Klaus Fuchs-Kittowski . Peter Lang International Science Publishers, PL Academic Research, Frankfurt a. M .; Bern; Bruxelles; New York; Oxford; Warszawa; Vienna 2016, ISBN 978-3-631-66719-4 (print), E- ISBN 978-3-653-06277-9 (e-book).

literature

  • Heinrich Kindler : Collection of exercises on control engineering. Verlag Technik Berlin, Oldenbourg-Verlag Munich, Vienna, 1964 (with H. Buchta and H.-H. Wilfert).
  • Karl Reinisch : Cybernetic basics and description of continuous systems . Verlag Technik Berlin 1974.
  • Horst Völz : Electronics. Basics, principles, relationships. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1974, 2nd edition 1979, 1002 pp.
  • Wolf Martin: Microcomputers in process data processing. Construction and use of microcomputers for monitoring, control and regulation. Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, Vienna 1977, ISBN 3-446-12373-3 .
  • Heinz Töpfer , Werner Kriesel : Functional units of automation technology - electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic. Verlag Technik, Berlin and VDI-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1977, 5th edition 1988, ISBN 3-341-00290-1 .
  • Albert Jugel : microprocessor systems. Verlag Technik, Berlin 1978.
  • Wolfgang Schwarz, Gernot Meyer, Dietrich Eckhardt: Microcomputers. Mode of operation, programming, application. Verlag Technik, Berlin 1980, 2nd edition 1981.
  • Wolfgang Fritzsch: Process computing technology. Automated systems with process and microprocess computers. Verlag Technik, Berlin 1981, 2nd edition 1983, 3rd edition 1986.
  • Klaus Kabitzsch : Microcomputers in automation practice. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-05-500243-1 .
  • Manfred Thoma : Heinz Töpfer 60 years. In: Automation technology, Munich. Vol. 38, No. 7, 1990, pp. 245-246.
  • Peter Neumann u. a .: PLC standard: IEC 1131: Programming in distributed automation systems. Oldenbourg-Industrieverlag, Munich; Vienna 1995, 2nd edition 1998, 3rd edition 2000, ISBN 978-3-8356-7005-1 .
  • Werner Kriesel, Hans Rohr, Andreas Koch: History and future of measurement and automation technology. VDI-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1995, ISBN 3-18-150047-X .
  • Lothar Starke: From the hydraulic controller to the process control system. The success story of the Askania works in Berlin and the device and controller works in Teltow. 140 years of industrial history, tradition and future. Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, Berlin 2009, ISBN 978-3-8305-1715-3 .
  • Hans-Joachim Zander , Georg Bretthauer : Prof. Heinz Töpfer on his 80th birthday. In: Automation technology, Munich. Vol. 58, No. 7, 2010, pp. 413-415.
  • Wolfgang Weller : Automation technology through the ages - development history of a fascinating subject. Verlag epubli GmbH Berlin, 2013, ISBN 978-3-8442-5487-7 and as an e-book.
  • Hans-Joachim Zander: Control of discrete-event processes. Novel methods for describing processes and designing control algorithms. Springer Vieweg Verlag, Wiesbaden 2015, ISBN 978-3-658-01381-3 , e-book ISBN 978-3-658-01382-0 .
  • Tilo Heimbold : Introduction to automation technology. Automation systems, components, project planning and planning. Fachbuchverlag Leipzig in Carl Hanser Verlag Munich 2015, ISBN 978-3-446-42675-7 , e-book ISBN 978-3-446-43135-5 .
  • Ulrich Busch, Michael Thomas (Ed.): A quarter of a century of German unity - facets of an incomplete integration. trafo Wissenschaftsverlag, Berlin 2015 (Treatises of the Leibniz Society of Sciences, Vol. 42), ISBN 978-3-86464-100-8 .
  • Werner Kriesel: Future models for computer science, automation and communication. In: Frank Fuchs-Kittowski ; Werner Kriesel (Ed.): Computer science and society. Festschrift for the 80th birthday of Klaus Fuchs-Kittowski . Peter Lang International Science Publishers, PL Academic Research, Frankfurt a. M .; Bern; Bruxelles; New York; Oxford; Warszawa; Vienna 2016, ISBN 978-3-631-66719-4 (print), E- ISBN 978-3-653-06277-9 (e-book).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://micialmedia.de/2019/07/nachruf-fuer-papa/
  2. ↑ Reinhold Schönefeld, Werner Liebich and others: Anniversary: ​​30 years of computer center and computer science at the TH Ilmenau (celebratory colloquium on November 29, 1991). In: Ilmenauer Hochschulblatt. Newspaper of the Technical University of Ilmenau , vol. 34/16/1991.
  3. ↑ Michael Roth: Pro Future. International Library for Future Issues - Robert Jungk Foundation. In: Ilmenauer Uni-Nachrichten 36/7/1993, p. 7.
  4. ↑ Michael Roth: vhw information: main topics of interest and professional association. In: Ilmenauer Uni-Nachrichten 36/3/1993, p. 7.
personal data
SURNAME Roth, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German engineer and professor for technical cybernetics and computer technology
DATE OF BIRTH June 18, 1936
PLACE OF BIRTH Kleinlomnitz , Czechoslovakia
DATE OF DEATH 23rd July 2019
Place of death Ilmenau