Alan Kay, 2003 Turing Award winner, creator of Smalltalk, father of OOP and contributor to GUIs, has been fired by HP, presumably as part of the 15,000 job slash. Together with the move to disband 3 other research projects, this is probably the strongest signal that HP is going to focus more on "low-tech" consumer products. The current concensus on Slashdot, meanwhile, is that HP has lost its mind.

Many view this move with derision, labelling it as being contrary to HP's lofty ideal of "HP Invent". The more caustic remarks read:

Actually, what they meant to say was "HP Invest." Just one letter. Simple mistake, really.

Actually actually, I think it meant to say "HP Invert", as in Rectal-Cranial Inversion, which is what HP has collectively accomplished with moves like this.

Others have outright dismissed Kay as an academic, not suited to corporate America. Not entirely true or wise, if you ask me.

Filed under: Technology