From shy student to a computing pioneer: Morgan Smyth’s journey of discovery

_{Grad Spotlight: Morgan Smyth, co-developer of one of the world’s first personal computers, the MCM/70. Schools: Mount Pleasant School (1951-58) and North Park Collegiate (1960-61) Brantford Collegiate Institute (1961-65)} 

As a young student, Morgan Smyth was too shy to walk into school by himself. Decades later, he would help develop technology that connected people across continents, years before the internet became part of everyday life.

Looking back on a career in computing that spanned decades, Smyth, now 81, still smiles at what he and his colleagues accomplished.

“Wow, look what we did,” he recalls thinking. “We knew it was going to change the world.”

For Smyth, the journey began in the classroom, where a group of teachers and friends helped him grow from a timid child into a confident individual with a curiosity for the unknown.

“I was still a very shy person back then,” he said, recalling his first day of school. By the time he graduated from Grade 8, his report card had 36 boxes marked “Excellent.”

_{Smyth was recently inducted to the Grand Erie Hall of Distinction for his excellence and contributions to global technology.}

After Mount Pleasant, he continued his Grand Erie journey at North Park Collegiate and Brantford Collegiate Institute, then graduated with honours from Toronto Metropolitan University.

His interest in computing emerged from a desire to pursue something that kept him thinking.

“When I was in my teenage years and had to make career decisions, I spent more time thinking about careers I didn’t want,” he said. “I wanted something where there was action, where the unknown was turning into the known.”

The computer industry proved to be just that.

Building something new

Smyth entered the computing industry when computers were large, expensive machines that often relied on punch cards to process information. Unlike traditional mainframes, the MCM/70 let users type commands directly into a built-in keyboard, view text on a small digital display and save data on compact magnetic cassette tapes.

At the time, conventional systems could take minutes to return an answer. The technology Smyth and his colleagues were developing could respond almost instantly to commands entered at a terminal.

“We thought, ‘This has got to be the future,’” he said.

Smyth helped document the technology, writing user manuals that outlined how the system worked and the rules developers needed to follow. He later moved to IP Sharp Associates, where he joined a team working on computer systems and networks.

One experiment connected computers in different cities, initially linking local users before expanding to places including Montreal, New York, Los Angeles and London, England.

“This was 10 years before the internet came out,” Smyth shared.

The network’s reach was so unusual at the time that International Business Machines (IBM) engineers visited to see it for themselves, having difficulty believing computers in different cities could communicate on such a scale.

For Smyth, this was another opportunity to help break new ground in technology.

“When you have those kinds of experiences and you know the dynamics that go on, it was a real pleasure,” he said.

His career continued into entrepreneurship. When he started his own company, he recalled riding his bicycle to deliver invoices and collect payments. A decade later, the business was recognized as one of Canada's 50 fastest-growing companies.

Finding confidence and connection

While Smyth's career took him into an emerging industry, some of his most enduring memories remain rooted in his school years.

He remembers playing tag and hide-and-seek with friends during recess, flying kites and tying their strings to a fence so they would be waiting when the students returned at noon.

He also remembers teachers who helped shape his experience, including Mrs. White, Ms. Rath, Mrs. Wheeler and Mr. Brennan.

Those friendships have endured. Smyth and his former classmates still gather every two years, with friends travelling from across Canada to reconnect.

Looking back, Smyth sees a connection between those early experiences and the person he became.

“We went from hiding in the corner to walking down the hall feeling like we belonged,” he said.

A story of curiosity and perseverance

He encourages young people to be careful about what they believe while keeping an open mind.

It is fitting advice from someone whose career was built around exploring what was possible. From a shy student finding his place in the classroom to a computing professional helping develop technology ahead of its time, Smyth's story is one of curiosity, perseverance and the value of creating room for others to grow.

For a student considering what comes next, his advice is straightforward: “Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly."

Smyth’s journey is an inspiration to the Grand Erie community and reflects the values of our Graduate Profile, particularly creative and critical thinking, adaptability and resilience.