Connecting a domestic television to a real-time transaction computer via a telephone line in 1979, Michael Aldrich created the foundation for modern e-commerce. This development allowed closed corporate information systems to open to outside correspondents for electronic transactions, messaging, and information retrieval long before the Internet became a common consumer utility.
Early Career and Innovation
Born in 1941 at Brocket Hall, Aldrich pursued his education at Clapham College and the University of Hull. Following his graduation in 1962, he spent 15 years in sales and marketing roles at Honeywell and the Burroughs Corporation. In 1977, he joined the board of Redifon, where he began implementing his theories regarding interactive, participative communication media.
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In 1980, Aldrich introduced the Teleputer, a device fusing PC, television, and telecommunications capabilities. While originally intended for the home, it found commercial application in business settings across the United Kingdom and the USSR. These systems utilized videotex technology to enable real-time trading, effectively bridging the gap between corporate infrastructure and external supply chains.
Realizing Online Shopping
Aldrich oversaw the deployment of significant transactional networks during the 1980s. The Thomson Holidays system in 1981 marked the first business-to-business online shopping operation. By 1984, the Gateshead SIS/Tesco project facilitated the world's first business-to-consumer online shopping, with Mrs. Jane Snowball serving as the first recorded home shopper.
Public Service and Leadership
He held the position of CEO at Redifon/Rediffusion/ROCC Computers for two decades before transitioning to non-executive chairman from 2000 until his death in 2014.
Fast facts
- Born: 1941, Brocket Hall
- Died: 2014
- Education: University of Hull, Clapham College
- Key Invention: Online shopping (1979)
- Device Invention: Teleputer (1980)
- Advisory Role: IT adviser to Margaret Thatcher (1981–86)
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the Teleputer?
It functioned as a multi-purpose home infotainment centre by combining a television, a Zilog Z80 microprocessor, and network communication technologies.
Which industry used Aldrich's early systems most extensively?
The automotive industry, including Peugeot-Talbot, Ford, General Motors, and Nissan, utilized these systems for dealer stock location, car adoption, and financing.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Hull and Clapham College
