Computerworld

Computer History Museum to induct Pixar co-founder not named Steve Jobs into Hall of Fellows

  • Bob Brown (Network World)
  • 04 March, 2013 23:33

The Computer History Museum on Monday announced its Class of 2013 includes Ed Catmull, a computer scientist and Pixar co-founder, along with two PC pioneers: Harry Huskey and Robert W. Taylor.

These accomplished technology industry professionals will be inducted into the museum's Hall of Fellows on April 27 in Mountain View. While their names might not be household ones, they join a roster of technology bigwigs from Web creator Tim Berners-Lee to Internet pioneer Vinton Cerf and Ethernet inventor Bob Metcalfe.

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Catmull not only started up Pixar, along with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Alvy Ray Smith, but is currently president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. The museum officially recognizes Catmull for: "His pioneering work in computer graphics, animation and filmmaking." Catmull is one of the architects of the RenderMan rendering software, which has been used in 44 of the last 47 films nominated for an Academy Award in the Visual Effects category, according to the museum. Catmull has received five Academy Awards.

Huskey earned his entry into the Hall of Fellows "for his seminal work on early and important computing systems, and a lifetime of service to computer education." Huskey's claims to fame include working on the famed ENIAC computer, working alongside computer industry legend Alan Turing, and as a faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley, developing the G15, called by some the first true personal computer.

The third new fellow, Taylor, enters the Hall of Fellows "For his leadership in the development of computer networking, online information and communications systems, and modern personal computing." 

His career included working closely with Doug Engelbart ("father of the computer mouse"), leading the Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and founding the Computer Science Laboratory at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), where Ethernet, the laser printer and other important network and computer technologies arose.

"The Fellows program recognizes the leading figures of the information age -- men and women who have shaped the computing revolution and changed the world forever," said John Hollar, museum president and CEO. "Catmull, Huskey and Taylor are a tremendously distinguished group, and we are honored to celebrate their work and achievements." 

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