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Dado Banatao is a well-known Filipino-American entrepreneur and engineer, who has made significant contributions to the semiconductor industry. He is best known for his work in developing the first single-chip, 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator, which revolutionized the calculator industry. Banatao has also founded several successful companies and has been recognized for his contributions to the field of engineering.
Early Life and Education
Diosdado Banatao, commonly known as Dado, was born on May 23, 1946, in Cagayan, Philippines. He was the fifth of eight children and grew up in a farming family. Despite limited resources, Banatao was an excellent student and received a scholarship to attend Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, where he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
In 1972, Banatao received a scholarship from the Philippine government to study in the United States. He enrolled at Stanford University, where he earned a master's degree in electrical engineering.
Career and Contributions
After completing his education, Banatao began working for the National Semiconductor Corporation in Santa Clara, California. In 1974, he developed the first single-chip, 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator, which was a significant breakthrough in the calculator industry. The calculator, known as the Electronic Calculator Model 1200, was faster and more powerful than any other calculator on the market at the time.
In 1984, Banatao left National Semiconductor and founded Mostron, a company that produced add-on memory boards for personal computers. The company was successful and was eventually sold to Emulex Corporation for $28 million.
Banatao went on to found several other successful companies, including Chips and Technologies, a manufacturer of semiconductor chips for personal computers, and S3 Graphics, a company that produced graphics chips for personal computers. In 1995, Banatao founded his venture capital firm, Tallwood Venture Capital, which focused on investing in semiconductor and computer-related companies.
Banatao has also been active in philanthropy and has established several charitable organizations, including the Philippine Development Foundation, which works to promote economic development in the Philippines.
Recognition and Awards
Banatao's contributions to the field of engineering have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1988, he was inducted into the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame, and in 2000, he was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Philippine Development Foundation. In 2012, Banatao was awarded the Asian American Engineer of the Year award by the Chinese Institute of Engineers-USA.
Conclusion
Dado Banatao is a pioneering Filipino-American engineer and entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the semiconductor industry. He is best known for developing the first single-chip, 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator and has founded several successful companies, including Chips and Technologies and S3 Graphics. Banatao has also been recognized for his contributions to the field of engineering and his philanthropic work, and he continues to be a leading figure in the technology industry.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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