Boris N Malinovsky

Designer of early Soviet computers and control systems, Malinovsky worked with noted Russian computer pioneer Lebedev in the design of early Soviet computers. In 1955–1958, he designed a specialized computer for ground-based radar data processing and an airborne digital control computer for aviation. In 1958–1962, Malinovsky served as chief designer of the DNEPR, the first Soviet digital transistor-based multi-purpose control computer. The DNEPR was mass-produced in 1962–1972; a total of nearly 500 production control and other control systems based on the DNEPR computers were implemented in the Soviet Union. Malinovsky's activity promoted the foundation of a scientific school in the field of digital control technology in Ukraine.

In 1957–1962, Malinovsky served as deputy director of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences Computer Center and head of its specialized computers department. In June 1962 the Center was renamed the Cybernetics Institute, and he was appointed head of its control computers department. In 1969 Malinovsky was elected Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of Ukr.SSR. In 1967–1973 he supervised the origination of the first minicomputer in Ukraine, the M 180, for the laboratory scientific experiment automation system.

In 1969–1979 he served as head of the Council on Scientific Research Automation at the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of Ukr.SSR and actively promoted that work. By the mid-1970s, nearly 100 systems for the automation of experimental scientific research had been created at the AS of Ukr.SSR. In 1973–1986 Malinovsky took part in the development of the first family of microcomputers in the USSR, "Electronica C 5," the personal computer "Neuron," and signal processors for new-generation terrestrial and onboard communication systems.

Malinovsky has published over 200 research works, including 12 monographs, and trained 10 doctors and 40 candidates of science. He has been awarded the orders of "Red Labor Banner," "October Revolution," and "Bogdan Khmelnitsky," and was twice laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine (1977, 2003) as well as prizes of the Presidium of the AS of Ukr.SSR named after S. Lebedev (1978) and V. Glushkov (1984). In 1998 he was granted the rank of "Dignified Leader of the Science and Technology of Ukraine." In 2002 Malinovsky was awarded the prize named after V. Vernadsky by the "Ukraine of XXI Century" Fund.

In his later years, Malinovsky has worked actively on the history of computer technology. He wrote the books: "Academician S. Lebedev" (1992), "Academician V. Glushkov" (1993), "History of the Computation Technique in Persons" (1995), "Essays on the History of Computer Science and Information Technology in Ukraine" (1998), "Known and Unknown in the History of Information Technology in Ukraine" (2001), and "Nothing is More Precious..." (2004). He also wrote scripts for the films "Academician S. Lebedev. For Eternal Storage." (Kiev Studio for Popular Scientific Films, 1992) and "Cyberneticist V. Glushkov. A Sight from the Future." (Kiev Studio "Golden Gates," 1993).