Roger Summit, the research scientist who invented an early online search service, died at the age of 95. He passed away recently, according to reports from the New York Times Business section.

While working at Lockheed in the 1960s, Summit developed Dialog, a computer system designed to search scientific and technical literature almost instantaneously. Dialog is recognized as one of the first online retrieval services, allowing users to query databases via telephone lines and receive results in seconds.

The system laid groundwork for modern search engines by introducing concepts such as remote access, indexed databases, and user‑friendly query language. Over the following decades, Dialog expanded to cover a broad range of disciplines and became a staple tool for researchers, librarians, and corporations worldwide. Dialog was launched commercially in 1966 and later evolved under various owners, eventually becoming part of the Thomson Reuters portfolio.

Summit’s contributions earned him recognition as a pioneer of information technology. He is survived by his family, and his work continues to influence how digital information is accessed and organized today. Summit held a degree in physics and spent his career bridging the gap between scientific research and emerging computer technology.