Member Profile: Alvy Ray Smith
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
I was born before computers and have spent my entire life—eight decades—surfing the Moore’s Law supernova tsunami. Boy, has it been fun!
2. What was your first job?
At a neighborhood grocery story, in junior high school, I did everything: stockman, checkout, sackboy, mopping, butcher, produce, delivery, …
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
BSEE at NMSU (New Mexico State University). MS and PhD at Stanford University—they had a new department there called CS and a new subject called AI (1965).
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
I missed the first couple, then attended one, I think it was in Philadelphia, with my new NYIT (New York Institute of Technology) colleagues who knew about it.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
Lots and lots of fine memories. A sampler: the premiere of Andre & Wally B at film night before 5000 screaming Siggraph enthusiasts, Pixar’s first booth, receiving the Achievement Award, Todd Rundgren’s parties, watching Loren Carpenter’s Vol Libre for the first time, Timothy Leary with entwined boa constrictor at the Nixon Library party, … etc etc
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
I spent 10 years writing a decent (that is, correct) history of computer graphics. I want the Siggraph community to be aware of it: A Biography of the Pixel. There are lots of surprises in it.
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who would it be and why?
I think Johnny von Neumann although I probably wouldn’t have been able to stay up with him intellectually. He and Stanislau Ulam founded cellular automata theory (my career before computer graphics). Ulam climbed up on a barstool next to mine once in the Netherlands. I was too star struck and tongue tied to engage him. I probably would be the same with von Neumann. But his daughter Marina and I get along great.
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
That I started in AI and then spent about 10 years in theoretical computer science (cellular automata theory) before discovering computer graphics. (and 2) That I am one of the 50 Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists—I used this scholarly training in the research for my book.
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
Artist Ed Emshwiller was a profound influence on my life—artistically of course (we did Sunstone together at NYIT in 1978-79) but more importantly he mentored me in life. I asked him about children. He said, “They’ll break your heart but they are not to be missed.” So I proceeded to have kids. (They’ve not broken my heart and they are not to be missed.)
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
To my mind Tom DeFanti grew Siggraph from a few 100 attendees to many 1000s. We started out arguing realtime animation vs raster graphics (way before pixels became realtime too), then he made Siggraph THE A/V powerhouse venue. It was the totality of Siggraph (art, science, business) that made Siggraph important to me, but I think that a lot of this vision started with Tom’s leadership.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
The premiere of Toy Story. It took us 20 years (!) from the idea of the first completely-generated movie at NYIT to its creation at Pixar.