Alvy Ray Smith

Pioneering computer scientist and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios.

Chronology: 1943-09-08 – Present

Origins & Early Life

Alvy Ray Smith III (born September 8, 1943) is an American computer scientist who co-founded Lucasfilm's Computer Division and Pixar, participating in the 1980s and 1990s expansion of computer animation into feature film. He is one of the 50 Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists. == Early life and education == Smith was born in Mineral Wells, Texas, and spent his childhood in New Mexico. He showed an early aptitude for mathematics and a deep interest in art, inspired by his uncle, a professional artist, who taught him how to oil paint.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Smith was introduced to computer programming by a visiting scientist from the White Sands Missile Range. In 1965, Alvy Smith received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico State University (NMSU). He created his first computer graphic in 1965 at NMSU. In 1970, he received a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University, with a dissertation on cellular automata theory jointly supervised by Michael A.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Arbib, Edward J. McCluskey, and Bernard Widrow. == Career == His first art show was at the Stanford Coffeehouse. From 1969 to 1973, he was an associate professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at New...

Source: Wikipedia