Norman Abramson, pioneer of wireless networks, dies at 88 Abramson died of skin cancer that had metastasised in his lungs, according to The New York Times Saturday December 12, 2020 11:03 AM, IANS San Francisco: Norman Abramson, one of the pioneers behind wireless computer networks for communication, has died at age 88. Abramson is known for creating ALOHAnet, an early wireless network that led to the next-gen technologies being used in modern satellite, phone, and computer networks. Abramson died of skin cancer that had metastasised in his lungs, according to The New York Times. One of Abramson's first projects at the University of Hawaii was to develop radio technology to help the school send and receive data from its remote geographic location to the US.