Photo: cherylish / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Public records list Alan Cooper as a computer scientist, writer and software developer. Born on June 3, 1952, Alan Cooper is from San Francisco, California, United States. That works out to 74 years old in 2026. Notable works include About Face: The Essentials of User Interface Design.
My Take
Alan Cooper is a quiet giant of the digital age, and as an editor steeped in how products communicate, I hold him in real esteem. Dubbed the Father of Visual Basic, he shaped tools millions used, but his deeper legacy is intellectual: About Face became the bible of interaction design, and The Inmates Are Running the Asylum dared to ask why technology so often frustrates us. A San Francisco native born in 1952, he championed human-centered design before it was fashionable. Every time an interface simply makes sense, a little of Cooper's philosophy is at work, unseen but everywhere. That kind of invisible influence impresses me most.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Alan Cooper
- Name (Japanese)
- アラン・クーパー
- Reading
- あらん・くーぱー
- Born
- June 3, 1952 (age 74)
- Origin
- San Francisco, California, United States
- Occupation
- computer scientist / writer / software developer
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Dragon
2. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | About Face: The Essentials of User Interface Design |
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Alan Cooper born?
Born June 3, 1952 (age 74).
Where is Alan Cooper from?
Alan Cooper is from San Francisco, California, United States.
What does Alan Cooper do?
Alan Cooper works as computer scientist, writer, software developer.
What is Alan Cooper known for?
Notable works include About Face: The Essentials of User Interface Design.
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