PROFESSOR FRANK E. TALKE
Dr. Talke began his career at the IBM Research and Development Laboratories in San Jose, California, in 1969. He joined the department of Applied Mechanics and Engineering Science at UC San Diego in 1986. Prof. Talke holds an endowed chair in the Center for Memory and Recording Research. Dr. Talke made important contributions in tribology of magnetic recording systems and in the development of a prototype drop-on-demand color ink jet printer. He performed pioneering studies in applying laser Doppler vibrometry to hard disk drives, and in studying novel lubricants and additives for the head/disk interface. More recently, Dr. Talke has become interested in medical device technology. With his students, he is studying 3-D printed disposable endoscopes and the design of a MEMS-type miniaturized intraocular pressure sensors for implantation in the human eye. In addition, research efforts are under way on miniaturization of internet enabled ophthalmic instrumentation, esophagus deflection devices, detachable bronchoscopes, and biofilm retardant catheters.
PROFESSOR FRANK TALKE
Dr. Talke has authored or co-authored more than 350 archived journal articles. He holds 11 patents with two pending.
He received the ASME Medal in 2008, the Mayo D. Hersey Award in 2010, and the Tribology Gold Medal in 2010.
Dr. Talke is a Fellow of the ASME, the STLE and the IEEE. He became an Honorary member of the ASME in 2018, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1999.
Dr. Talke received his Diplom-Ingenieur degree from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, in 1965. He earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1966 and 1968, respectively. He holds an honorary doctorate from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany.
This oral history records Professor Talke's contribution to the HDD technology, specifically in the field of tribology and head disk interface mechanics, and the establishment of a very successful Center for Magnetic Recording, now called Center for Memory Research at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
Interviewed by Tom Yamashita on 2017-07-24 in Mountain View, CA, X8290.2018
© Computer History Museum
Frank E. Talke, Ph.D., is honored for contributions to information storage technology, color ink jet printing and medical device technology.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Honorary Member ASME
Election European Academy of Art and Science
STLE International Award
ASME/ISPS Distinguished Institution Award
Tribology Gold Medal
Mayo D Hersey Award
Member, Acatech (Germany)
ASME medal
von HHHumboldt Prize
Fellow IEEE
Honorary Doctorate degree, TUM (Univ. of Munich)
ASME/Seagate Tribology Award
Fellow, STLE
Fellow, ASME
Member, National Academy of Engineering
Max Planck Prize for International Cooperation
Outstanding Technical Achievement Award (IBM)
Outstanding Contribution Award (IBM)
2018
2018
2013
2012
2010
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2005
2004
2001
1999
1999
1983
1973, 1978