David Upton 13.1.25 Gordon Pask, cybernetician, inventor and polymath

Gordon Pask, an enigmatic figure in the world of cybernetics and local Richmond resident, stands as a testament to the transformative power of visionary thinking and technical ingenuity. Working at a time when computers were still in their infancy, Pask explored the uncharted territory of artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction, leaving an indelible mark on the field.

Pask’s eccentricities only added to his mystique. With his penchant for dressing like an Edwardian dandy and his habit of working predominantly at night from his consultancy on Richmond Hill, he defied convention and embraced his own unique approach to life and work. Yet beneath the eccentric exterior lay a brilliant mind, constantly probing the frontiers of knowledge and pushing the boundaries of what was possible.

A member of the Richmnd Local History Society,, David Upton, has been a Richmond resident since he stopped travelling with the Diplomatic Service where he embarked on his first career. Back in the UK, he set up a small specialised management consultancy firm counting some of the world’s largest companies as its clients, and for his third and final career, he is developing a practice as a computational artist.