Linus Torvalds, who created Linux back in 1991, has been for the 2012 , a top honor whose past winners have included Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web.

"The free availability of Linux on the Web swiftly caused a chain-reaction leading to further development and fine-tuning worth the equivalent of 73,000 man-years," Technology Academy Finland, which determines the award.

"Today millions use computers, smartphones and digital video recorders like Tivo run on Linux," the academy added. "Linus Torvalds' achievements have had a great impact on shared software development, networking, and the openness of the Web, making it accessible for millions, if not billions."

Like the Nobel Peace Prize

Like a technology version of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Millennium Technology Prize is one of the world's largest prizes in this field, and it seeks candidates from around the globe and all fields of technology. It's awarded every two years for innovations improving the quality of human life and encouraging sustainable development.