Internet Pioneer David J. Farber Passes Away at 91

David J. Farber: Architect of Early Networking and Internet Foundations

David J. Farber, a pioneering computer scientist often described as one of the “grandfathers of the internet,” passed away on February 7 in Tokyo at the age of 91. His family confirmed that heart failure was the cause of death. Farber, who had been teaching at Keio University since 2018, devoted his career to advancing computer networking, influencing both technological development and public policy.

Early Contributions at Bell Laboratories

Farber began his professional journey at Bell Laboratories in the 1950s, when computing systems largely operated independently. His research centred on integrating computing with telecommunications, promoting the concept of interconnected machines. At a time when data sharing was minimal, this vision marked a fundamental shift towards network-based communication.

His work contributed to the broader transformation of computers from isolated processing units into communication-enabled systems.

Mentorship and Internet Architecture

Farber’s academic legacy is closely tied to his mentorship of students who later shaped critical internet technologies. In the early 1970s, he engaged in influential discussions with Jonathan Postel, whose research significantly informed the evolution of the Internet Protocol (IP), the core framework governing digital data exchange.

Another student, Paul Mockapetris, went on to design the Domain Name System (DNS), which simplified internet navigation by translating numerical IP addresses into readable domain names. Farber also actively collaborated with policymakers, advocating government support for experimental networking projects.

Vision of Digital Communication

In 1977, Farber co-authored a forward-looking paper with Paul Baran, predicting that computers would increasingly serve as tools for human communication. The study anticipated the emergence of email, messaging systems, and collaborative digital platforms.

Exam-Focused Points

• David J. Farber → Pioneer in computer networking research

• Internet Protocol (IP) → Governs data packet transmission

• Domain Name System (DNS) → Converts domain names to IP addresses

• Bell Laboratories → Landmark institution in telecom innovation

• Farber’s students → Key contributors to core internet infrastructure