Founded in 1989, ClariNet Communications represented the first commercial business entity to operate directly on the early internet. Led by Brad Templeton, this project established an early digital framework for distributing news and literature, marking a departure from the purely academic and government-restricted network environments that preceded it during the late twentieth century.
Early Engineering Career
Born in 1960 near Toronto, Templeton attended Lorne Park Secondary School before pursuing his education at the University of Waterloo. His initial professional contributions centered on software development for home computers. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, he authored or ported titles for the Commodore PET, Apple, and Atari systems, including the Time Trek game and Microchess. By 1981, he was lead author on Visiplot for the IBM PC and later developed ALICE, an integrated development environment, in 1985.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Usenet and Online Publishing
Templeton attained recognition through his management of the Usenet newsgroup rec.humor.funny. By 1989, statistics indicated this site served as the most widely read online publication, reaching approximately 440,000 readers by the mid-1990s. Beyond comedy, he explored e-book distribution through ClariNet, notably editing the 1993 Hugo and Nebula Anthology, which utilized a digital subscription model under the Library of Tomorrow project.
Advocacy and Institutional Roles
Since 1997, Templeton has contributed to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, serving as chairman from 2000 to 2010. His work in civil rights and digital policy included acting as a plaintiff in Reno v. ACLU before the Supreme Court of the United States. He also serves on the board of the Foresight Institute and maintains a position as Chair for Networks and Computing at Singularity University.
Autonomous Vehicle Consulting
Focusing on transportation technology since 2007, Templeton established the site Robocars.com and contributes regular analysis on vehicle automation. In 2010, he began consulting for Google's self-driving car project, now known as Waymo. He holds 21 patents related to telephony and autonomous vehicle technology and has provided consulting services to companies including Starship Technologies and Quanergy LIDAR.
Fast facts
- Born: 1960, Toronto, Canada
- Education: University of Waterloo
- ClariNet Communications Founder: 1989
- EFF Chairman: 2000–2010
- Patents held: 21
- Google self-driving car project consultant: 2010
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of ClariNet?
ClariNet was the first company established to conduct commercial activity over the early internet.
Did Brad Templeton contribute to the development of self-driving cars?
Yes, he consulted for Google's self-driving car project starting in 2010 and holds 21 patents in the field.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Waterloo and Lorne Park Secondary School
