Sophie Wilson
Born 1957 · Age 68
English computer scientist and engineer; co-designer of the ARM instruction set; key designer of the BBC Micro and BBC BASIC; awarded multiple fellowships and honours including CBE and FRS.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Leeds, England
Sophie Mary Wilson (born Roger Wilson) was born in Leeds to two schoolteacher parents.
Designed electronic systems for ICI Fibres Research
Before attending university, designed and built two electronic systems for ICI Fibres Research (counting translucent drops and detecting fibre machinery breakdowns).
Mathematics studies begin at Selwyn College, Cambridge
Went up to Selwyn College, Cambridge to study mathematics; later switched to computer science in her final year.
Attended Harrogate Grammar School (secondary education prior)
Completed secondary schooling at Harrogate Grammar School before Cambridge.
Member of Cambridge Microprocessor Society
Became a member of the university Microprocessor society while at Cambridge.
Built MOS 6502-based automated cow-feeder
During the 1977 summer vacation after her first year, designed a system around the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor to electronically control feed for cows; this project drew attention from Hermann Hauser.
Encouraged by Hermann Hauser to develop computer design
Hermann Hauser supported Wilson to stay in Cambridge in the 1978 summer vacation to turn her cow-feeder design into a general microcomputer design.
Worked on cassette interface with Steve Furber
Combined Wilson's processor board design with a cassette interface by Steve Furber to create the Acorn Micro-Computer prototype.
Cambridge Processor Unit (CPU Ltd) formed
Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry set up Cambridge Processor Unit Ltd (initial consultancy for microprocessor-based control systems); this was the antecedent to Acorn Computers.
Graduated from Cambridge (approximate)
Completed her degree (switched to computer science in final year) while moonlighting on Acorn work; exact graduation date not explicitly stated but activity indicates completion around 1979.
Joined Acorn Computers (started at company)
Wilson started working at the newly formed company (CPU/Acorn) in 1979, contributing low-level software and device drivers.
Acorn Micro-Computer sold commercially
Wilson's design became the Acorn Micro-Computer, the first commercially sold machine by the company (early Acorn product line).
Developed increasing range of Acorn Eurocard rack systems
Acorn evolved from single boards into Eurocard rack systems for diverse customer interfaces and control systems.
Designed custom coin-controller for Ace Coin Equipment
CPU Ltd's first customer Ace Coin Equipment needed controllers for fruit machines; Wilson designed a device to prevent cigarette lighter sparks triggering payouts.
Released Acorn Atom
Acorn Atom home computer released in March 1980; Wilson contributed monitor, assembler, BASIC and multiple device drivers.
BBC Micro selected
Acorn's Proton was accepted as the BBC Micro, with Wilson responsible for the operating system and BBC BASIC implementation.
Designed BBC BASIC and OS
Developed BBC BASIC (16K) and the operating system for the BBC Micro; incorporated structured programming features such as long variable names, REPEAT/UNTIL, local variables, multi-line procedures.
Week-long build of the 'Proton' prototype for BBC
Under pressure to deliver a prototype for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, Wilson and colleagues designed and built the 'Proton' (BBC Micro prototype) in under a week; Wilson ported the OS and had graphics and text ready for BBC inspection.
Debugging during Prince Charles–Diana wedding
Wilson watched the wedding on a small portable TV while debugging and re-soldering the BBC Micro prototype during summer 1981 development.
Began designing ARM instruction set
In October 1983 Wilson began designing the instruction set for the Acorn RISC Machine (ARM), one of the first RISC processors.
ARM entered production
ARM entered production the same year as the ARM1 prototype (1985); the design emphasized low transistor counts and low power consumption.
Gold-plated BBC Micro produced (museum/competition piece)
A gold-plated BBC Micro was made in 1985 for a magazine competition; example now in museum collections.
ARM1 chip delivered (first working prototype)
The ARM1 prototype was delivered on 26 April 1985 and worked the first time it was powered up.
BBC Micro sales milestone and education penetration
By 1986 about half a million BBC Micros had been sold and the machine was used in ~92% of British secondary schools.
ARM Ltd split from Acorn — Wilson consulted
When ARM was spun out from Acorn in 1990, Wilson served as a consultant to ARM Ltd during the split.
Non-executive director of Eidos plc post-flotation
She served as a non-executive director of Eidos plc in the years following its flotation in 1990.
ARM used in Apple Newton MessagePad
ARM processors were adopted by Apple for the Newton MessagePad (1993), an early PDAs use-case for ARM architecture.
Gender transition (male to female)
Wilson transitioned from male to female in 1994, a significant personal milestone.
Public talk on Acorn history (CU Computer Preservation Society)
Spoke to an audience about Acorn, covering the BBC Micro to the ARM; event recorded in the Cambridge University Computer Preservation Society (1998).
Developed Firepath SIMD LIW processor (Chief Architect)
Led design of the Firepath SIMD LIW processor and wrote the Architecture Guide; Firepath lineage traces back to Acorn; used in ADSL/SoC designs.
Co-founded Element 14 (spin-out / new company)
Wilson and several colleagues founded Element 14 to exploit Firepath technology for broadband/ADSL (timing around late 1990s).
Broadcom acquired Element 14
Element 14 was bought by Broadcom at the end of 2000; this moved Firepath/IP into Broadcom's portfolio.
Joined Broadcom as research fellow and director
In 2001 Wilson became a research fellow and director at Broadcom, continuing to work on microprocessor designs (including Firepath related work).
Elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Awarded Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering in recognition of her contributions to computer engineering.
Public presentation on ARM development (photo/presentation)
Wilson gave a public presentation on ARM development in 2009 (photographed/published materials reference this event).
Cameo role in BBC drama 'Micro Men'
Played a cameo role as a pub landlady in the BBC television drama Micro Men, which dramatizes the 1980s UK home computer industry (the programme aired in 2009).
Listed in Maximum PC 'The 15 Most Important Women in Tech History' (#8)
Maximum PC listed Wilson at number 8 in their article highlighting important women in tech history.
Computer History Museum Fellow Award
Awarded the Fellow Award by the Computer History Museum for work on the BBC Micro and ARM processor architecture.
ARM adoption milestone: used in ~95% of smartphones
By 2012 ARM cores were reported to be used in approximately 95% of smartphones, reflecting widespread adoption of Wilson's architecture design.
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
Elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society in recognition of her contributions to computing and engineering.
Received Lovie Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded the Lovie Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledging her invention of the ARM processor.
Honorary Fellow of Selwyn College; Royal Society Mullard Award
Became an honorary fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge and jointly received the Royal Society Mullard Award with Steve Furber for work on ARM.
Received Honorary Doctorate
Awarded an honorary doctorate (institution referenced in sources as Cambridge/associated honours).
Long-form interview recorded (Alan Macfarlane)
Participated in a recorded interview (video) about her career and contributions on 21 May 2017.
Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Appointed CBE in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to computing.
Distinguished Fellow of the British Computer Society
Honoured as a Distinguished Fellow of the BCS in recognition of her lifetime contributions to computing.
Recipient of Charles Stark Draper Prize (joint award)
Awarded (with David A. Patterson, John L. Hennessy, and Stephen B. Furber) the Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering for invention, development and implementation of RISC chips.
Co-funded Sophie Wilson Scholarship in Scientific Computing
The Sophie Wilson scholarship for Scientific Computing was established in 2024, co-funded by Wilson to support MPhil students in Scientific Computing at the University of Cambridge.
Profiled and cited in multiple engineering publications
Continued recognition in sources (Science Museum, Interesting Engineering, REV Robotics, etc.) documenting Wilson's career, ARM's 40th anniversary and ongoing legacy.
Key Achievement Ages
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