Ken Olsen was an American entrepreneur who co-founded Digital Equipment Corporation in 1957 with Harlan Anderson. Digital Equipment Corporation grew to employ over 12,000 people building mini computers. Ken Olsen was considered one of America's most successful entrepreneurs by Fortune magazine due to his success growing Digital Equipment Corporation. Though Digital Equipment Corporation was eventually acquired by Compaq Computer Corporation in 1998, Ken Olsen made major contributions to the development of early computers.

1. Ken Olsen –
Computer Hero
By Shaun Badger

2. Introduction

3. Ken Olsen
• Ken Olsen was born in 1926
and attended Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
• In 1957 Ken Olsen and his
friend, Harlan
Anderson, started their own
company called ‘Digital
Equipment Corporation
(DEC).’

4. Ken Olsen - Continued
• Digital Equipment
Corporation created mini
computers and eventually
went on to employ over
12000 employees.
• Ken Olsen was called
‘’America's most successful
entrepreneur” by fortune
magazine, highlighting his
success as a business man.

5. Ken Olsen - Continued
• The minicomputers
developed by Ken Olsen went
on to become the computers
we know today.
• Ken Olsen said in 1977 that
“There is no reason for any
individual to have a computer
in his home” because he
believed that there will soon
be ‘super homes’ with
automated doors and voice
activated features.

6. Ken Olsen - Continued
• In 1998 Compaq Computer
Corporation brought Ken
Olsen’s Digital Equipment
Corporation.
• On February 6th 2011 Ken
Olsen died.

7. Quiz Time!
Make sure you have read all the information about Ken Olson,
then attempt the quiz below!
Quiz!