He died at his home in Bedford Hills, N.Y. from esophageal cancer, according to a report in the New York Times.
To say that Mr. Diebold was a man ahead of his time would be a gross understatement. Remember back when computers weighed not pounds, but tons? Well, even back then he tried to tell the world how programmable devices could change the way business was done. He authored the book Automation to evangelize about opportunities that computers would bring.
Mr. Diebold went on to create an international consulting firm and explained technological advances to the likes of Boeing, Xerox and AT&T. The New York Times raves that he ''persuaded major corporations to automate their assembly lines, store their records electronically and install interoffice computer networks''. That's high praise from a cynical industry.
Mr. Diebold saw how computers could change business and society. He saw the benefits that technology could bring to this world. And he worked for decade after decade to educate the rest of us about it.
For that kind of vision and passion, he will be missed.
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