Alan Kay’s Introduction:
Chris Johnson, Director of the Scientific, Computing, and Imaging Institute at the University of Utah, welcomed attendees to the second Ski X open house and keynote presentation. He acknowledged individuals from outside of Salt Lake City who traveled to attend the 2012 conference.

Alan Kay’s Background and Accomplishments:
Chris Johnson introduced Alan Kay, a University of Utah alumnus and renowned innovator in computing. Kay’s dissertation included groundbreaking work in hardware design, software design, network design, and user interface design. He received the 2003 Turing Award for his contributions to object-oriented programming and the creation of the Dynabook.

The Aim of the Talk:
Kay explained the aim of his talk was to provide insight into the research community that fostered the development of influential computing technologies. The inspiration for this talk came from an essay he wrote as a tribute to the community when several members won the Draper Prize.

Challenges of Telling the Past:
Kay highlighted the difficulty of accurately recounting the past due to its intricate details and the nuances of motivation behind certain actions. He noted that praise can be easily expressed, but explaining the negative motivations that drive innovation can be more challenging and requires careful explanation.

Slogan from World War II Radar Effort:
Kay referenced a slogan from the World War II radar effort at MIT’s Building 20, “The only way to predict the future is to invent it.” He emphasized the importance of radar technology in securing victory for the Allied forces during World War II. Kay described the rapid development of over 150 different radar systems by the group at Building 20 within a span of 3 1/2 years.

The Rad Lab:
During World War II, the Rad Lab at MIT made significant contributions to radar technology. The lab developed and deployed radar systems on various vehicles, contributing to the war effort.

Atomic Bomb and Vannevar Bush:
Another significant effort during the war was the development of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos. Both the Rad Lab and the atomic bomb project were funded by President Roosevelt’s science advisor, Vannevar Bush. Bush had an engineering background and was involved in early analog computer development.

Post-World War II Developments:
After World War II, there was a focus on addressing the threat of Russian bombers during the Cold War. The semi-automated ground environment system was created, involving large displays and computers. Jerome Wiesner, an MIT undergraduate during World War II, held various leadership positions and contributed to science and engineering advancements.

NSF and ARPA:
In the 1950s, the National Science Foundation (NSF) was established to promote research and development. In the late 1950s, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was created due to the perceived threat posed by Sputnik.

Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO):
A division of ARPA called the Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) was established in the early 1960s. IPTO played a pivotal role in the development of many technologies that we use today. MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Utah were among the initial recipients of IPTO funding.

PhD Graduates and Xerox PARC:
IPTO-funded institutions produced a significant number of PhD graduates who went on to work at Xerox PARC in the 1970s. These individuals played a crucial role in the development of personal computing as we know it today.

Progress as the Driving Force:
A key factor in the success of these efforts was the emphasis on progress and innovation. This mindset was carried through generations and contributed to the remarkable achievements in computing technology.

Cooperation and Synergy:
A remarkable level of cooperation existed among researchers and organizations during this era. Openness and sharing of ideas and resources fostered synergy and led to groundbreaking advancements.

Reliable Components vs. Human Reliability:
In the early days of computing, components were unreliable, unlike today’s highly reliable components. However, the cooperation and ingenuity of the people involved enabled them to overcome these challenges.

Second Floor Exhibit:
The exhibit showcases the size of early computers, with Computer A and Computer B occupying the space of a football field.

Vacuum Tube Computers:
The Q32 was a vacuum tube computer that occupied two floors of a building, with the second floor being about two acres in size. The Q32 was used as a defense system against Russia.

Console and Size:
The console of the Q32 was in a separate room, giving the impression that the computer was smaller than it actually was. The actual computer was on the third floor, and it was much larger than the console, spanning two football fields.

Continued Use and Vacuum Tubes:
The last Q32 computer remained in service until the early 1980s. As vacuum tube production ceased in other countries, the United States began buying vacuum tubes from Russia to keep the Q32 operational.

Reliability and Maintenance:
To prevent crashes, the Q32 was designed with redundant systems and components. Maintenance was performed on the Q32 while it was still running, minimizing downtime.

Computers in the 50s:
Computers in the 50s were prone to failures due to vacuum tubes malfunctioning frequently. To address this issue, two computers were used to run the same computations, and any detected instruction failures were patched with subroutines made from working instructions. Graphics in those days involved plotting points in sequence, and a light gun was used to register and interrupt the computer when a point was drawn.

John McCarthy’s Vision:
John McCarthy foresaw the proliferation of computers in every household and coined the term “information utility” to describe a cloud-based computing model. He proposed a time-sharing operating system to enable multiple users to simultaneously access and share a computer’s resources.

John McCarthy’s Contributions:
McCarthy advocated for an artificially intelligent agent to assist users through terminals. He developed the programming language LISP to facilitate the programming of such an intelligent agent. McCarthy’s foresight and innovations in the 50s laid the foundation for future personal computing and artificial intelligence.

Dave Evans and Harry Husky:
Dave Evans and Harry Husky made significant contributions to computer graphics and interactive computing in the early days of computing.

Dave Evans and the G15 Personal Computer:
Dave Evans, an executive at Bendix, led the development of the G15, one of the earliest personal computers. Harry Husky, who had worked with Alan Turing on the Pilot Ace, joined Evans at Berkeley, contributing to the idea of personal computing.

IBM 1401 and Mundane Computing:
Alan Kay began programming for money on the IBM 1401, a utilitarian machine designed to replace punch card accounting machines. Kay criticizes the mundane nature of computing at the time, emphasizing the lack of vision and focus on the future in the industry.

Sketchpad: The World’s First Real Graphics System:
Sketchpad, developed in 1962, is considered the world’s first real graphics system and personal computing system. It allowed users to interact with graphical objects in real-time, using a light pen and a display.

Features of Sketchpad:
Sketchpad had masters and objects, similar to classes and objects in modern programming. It featured a powerful problem solver that could solve complex geometric problems interactively. It was programmed in terms of desired results rather than procedural steps, making it more user-friendly.

Ivan Sutherland’s PhD Thesis and the Interactive Graph:
Ivan Sutherland’s PhD thesis, which resulted in Sketchpad, is considered a groundbreaking achievement in computing. Sutherland programmed the interactive graph, including the display, objects, and problem solvers, all by himself in one year, demonstrating his exceptional skills and dedication.

Conclusion:
The 1960s marked significant developments in computing, including the emergence of personal computers, the invention of the first real graphics system, and the groundbreaking work of Ivan Sutherland on Sketchpad. These advancements laid the foundation for modern computing and continue to influence the field today.

Reimagined Sketchpad:
A modern version of Sketchpad was demonstrated, showcasing its ability to simulate physical interactions and dynamic simulations. The simulation included a beam subject to gravity and weights, illustrating the effects of stress and strain.

Dynamic Simulations:
Sketchpad’s simplicity allowed for elegant simulations, such as the bridge simulation, which required only three lines of code. The bridge simulation incorporated Galilean gravity, spring constants, and pins holding the beams together.

Improved Displays:
The desire for better visuals led to advancements in displays, as opposed to solely improving Sketchpad itself. Modern displays provide improved clarity and visual capabilities.

Constraint Solving:
Words were assigned weights in the simulation, demonstrating the concept of constraint solving. The bottom weight in the code represented the pins holding the beams together, allowing for dynamic adjustments.

Computer Displays as Costumes:
Alan Kay emphasizes that computer screen displays are merely “costumes” that hide the underlying system. This concept is significant because it highlights the idea that the user interface is separate from the underlying functionality of the system.

Repurposing System Elements for the User Interface:
Kay demonstrates the flexibility of the system by repurposing beams into user interface elements. This demonstrates the potential for customization and personalization of the user interface.

Color Preferences and Design Aesthetics:
Kay expresses his personal preferences for certain colors and design aesthetics in the user interface. This highlights the importance of considering aesthetics and user preferences in interface design.

Inspiration from Biology and Turing:
Kay mentions the influence of biology and Turing’s work on his approach to computing. He draws parallels between biological systems and computational systems, emphasizing the role of parallel programming and message passing.

Ants as an Example of Parallel Programming:
Kay uses the example of ants and their communication to illustrate the concept of particles and fields and parallel programming. This example demonstrates how independent entities can work collectively through the exchange of messages.

Importance of Biology in Computing:
Kay emphasizes the importance of considering the properties of biology when thinking about computing systems. This reflects the growing interest in biomimicry and the application of biological principles in the design of computational systems.

The Link Machine and Wes Clark:
In 1962, Wes Clark developed the Link machine, which is considered the first machine with the essential attributes of a personal computer. The Link machine was designed for biomedical engineers who needed a machine in the lab and didn’t want to wait for the university mainframe. About 2,000 Link machines were built and used in the 1960s.

The B5000 by Bob Barton:
The B5000, released in 1962, was a remarkably advanced piece of hardware, more advanced than the chips in modern personal computers. Bob Barton, the architect of the B5000, was a genius who made significant contributions to computer architecture.

J.C.R. Licklider and the Intergalactic Computer Network:
J.C.R. Licklider, a psychologist interested in computers, envisioned a future where computers would serve as interactive intellectual amplifiers for all people, universally networked worldwide. In 1963, Licklider wrote a memo to the members and affiliates of the Intergalactic Computer Network, emphasizing the need to connect every person on the planet. Licklider’s funding supported the development of the ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet.

Licklider’s Funding and the Turing Award Winners:
Licklider funded a group of researchers and institutions that made significant contributions to computing. Many of the researchers funded by Licklider, including Dave Evans, Bob Barton, Butler Lamson, and Ivan Sutherland, went on to win the Turing Award, the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Computing.

The Tendency to be Tactical Rather Than Strategic:
Alan Kay highlights the tendency of humans to be tactical and incremental in their approach to problem-solving, rather than strategic and radical. This tendency leads to complex and tangled systems, like the image of a room filled with wires, which is an honest representation of how most people do things. Software is even worse in this regard, with hundreds of millions of lines of code tangled in a similar fashion.

The Licklider Community’s Approach:
The community funded by Licklider took the opposite approach to IBM and other vendors of the time. They focused on system integrity rather than performance, believing that this would allow them to build more flexible and extensible systems. They viewed the complex network of wires as a communications channel with everything that wanted to be communicated with hung on it. This recursive idea could be extended through all layers of software and networking, which was a revolutionary concept at the time.

Dave Evans and the University of Utah:
Dave Evans arrived at the University of Utah in 1965, followed by Alan Kay in 1966. Evans was a visionary leader who emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation. He encouraged graduate students to travel and network with researchers from other institutions.

J.C.R. Licklider and the ARPANET:
J.C.R. Licklider, a pioneer in computer science, envisioned a network of computers that could be accessed by researchers from different locations. He funded Engelbart’s research on the NLS, which showcased groundbreaking technologies like hypertext, windows, and the mouse. Licklider also played a crucial role in the development of the ARPANET, the precursor to the internet.

The University of Utah’s Contributions to the ARPANET:
The University of Utah was one of the first four nodes on the ARPANET. Wes Clark, a researcher at the university, invented the IMP (Interface Message Processor), a device that routed data packets across the network. Lenny Kleinrock, another researcher at the university, conducted experiments on the ARPANET that demonstrated the feasibility of packet switching.

Dave Evans’ Teaching Style:
Dave Evans had a unique and challenging teaching style that aimed to push students to their limits. He believed in destroying students’ preconceived notions and starting from scratch. Evans emphasized the importance of critical thinking and the ability to evaluate ideas carefully. He challenged students to question everything they believed in, including his own work.

Barton’s Influence on Computing:
Barton was a brilliant and articulate mathematician who had a significant impact on the field of computer science. He emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge and discoveries without seeking personal recognition. Barton was known for his provocative and challenging teaching style, which aimed to break down students’ assumptions and force them to think critically. He believed that systems programmers held a privileged position and should be held accountable for their work.

Recursive Design Principle:
Barton introduced the principle of recursive design, which states that the parts of a system should have the same powers as the whole system. This principle has been widely adopted in engineering and other fields and has proven to be a powerful tool for creating scalable and efficient systems.

Dave Evans and the Hidden Line Problem:
Dave Evans, a professor at the University of Utah, believed that using pixels on a bitmap screen could solve the hidden line problem, which made it difficult to render opaque surfaces in computer graphics.

John Warnock’s Breakthrough:
John Warnock, a master’s student in mathematics, developed a recursive descent program that turned the exponential hidden line problem into an n log n problem, making it much faster to render opaque surfaces. Warnock’s breakthrough convinced Ivan Sutherland, a leading computer graphics researcher, to move his entire research group to the University of Utah, which transformed the department.

Alan Kay’s Projects:
Alan Kay worked on several projects related to computer graphics, including: The sketch machine, a desktop computer with multiple clipping windows, an object-oriented user interface, and an iconic GUI. A concept for a children’s computer that could be carried around and used for playing games and programming. A cardboard model of a tablet computer with a wireless network connection.

Flat Screen Displays:
Kay visited an ARPA contractors meeting in 1968, where he saw a prototype of a flat screen display that was only an inch square. This sparked his interest in the potential of flat-screen displays for portable computers.

Community of Graduate Students:
A gathering of top graduate students from various universities was initiated, fostering collaboration and idea sharing. This community led to annual conferences at the University of Illinois, where students showcased their research and built connections.

Early Vision of the Tablet:
The concept of a portable computer with a flat-screen display emerged. Calculations based on Moore’s Law suggested the feasibility of integrating transistors on the back of a display by 1980.

Xerox PARC and the Exodus from ARPA:
US government funding for research on campuses was curtailed due to protests against the Vietnam War. As a result, Taylor and his team of graduate students moved to Xerox PARC to continue their work.

The Xerox PARC Breakthrough:
Within four years, the team at Xerox PARC developed groundbreaking technologies. These innovations included the graphical user interface (GUI), desktop publishing, WYSIWYG, object-oriented programming (OOP), PostScript, laser printing, Ethernet, and early foundations of the Internet.

Cost and Accessibility:
The Xerox PARC project had a modest budget of $10 million per year, demonstrating the feasibility of such research with limited resources. The team consisted of approximately 30 individuals, highlighting the importance of collaboration and a focused team.

Xerox PARC’s Financial Success:
Xerox made an impressive 300-fold return on investment (ROI) from Xerox PARC, primarily due to the success of the laser printer. Despite the common misconception, Xerox profited billions from the laser printer, recouping PARC’s expenses numerous times over.

Economic Impact of Xerox PARC:
The innovations developed at Xerox PARC have generated more than $33 trillion in economic value to date. The inventions continue to yield over a trillion dollars annually, demonstrating their enduring impact.

Funding and Mentorship at Xerox PARC:
Dave Evans’ leadership and ability to manage a team of creative and eccentric individuals were crucial to Xerox PARC’s success. Evans’ dedication earned him the respect and loyalty of his graduate students, who would go to great lengths to support him.

Key Funders of the ARPA Community:
Licklider, Sutherland, Bob Taylor, and Larry Roberts were the primary funders of the ARPA community, which supported groundbreaking research in computing. Taylor, a psychologist, played a pivotal role in funding the ARPANET and establishing Xerox PARC.

Shift in Funding and Its Impact:
The current funding landscape differs significantly from that of the past, leading to a mismatch between available funding and the type of people it attracts. Today, individuals with a passion for computing may pursue other fields due to the lack of support and recognition for research-oriented pursuits.

Confusion in Computing Education:
Universities have contributed to the confusion between vocational training and a comprehensive education in computing. The prevalence of IBM-ism, Microsoft, and web programming has obscured the true nature of computing, making it challenging for students to discover the field’s intellectual appeal.

The Importance of Services and User Interfaces in Personal Computing:
Alan Kay emphasizes the significance of services in defining the Dynabook concept, stressing that most people struggle to grasp this aspect of computing due to the prevailing value placed on physical hardware.

Hardware vs. Services:
Kay highlights the undervaluation of computers compared to other consumer goods, such as cars, emphasizing the need to recognize the value of computing services beyond mere physical devices.

Inadequate Computer Literacy:
He points out the widespread use of computers primarily for convenience in dealing with traditional media, rather than for learning or creating new things, highlighting the lack of computer literacy and the absence of true symmetry between creation and consumption.

The Deficiency of the iPad:
Kay criticizes the services provided by devices like the iPad, stating that they violate the fundamental principle of personal computing, which should offer symmetrical creation and consumption capabilities.

The Importance of Symmetry:
Kay emphasizes the significance of symmetry in personal computing, allowing users to both create and consume content, as opposed to merely consuming it, as is the case with most current consumer devices.

Tools as Amplifiers and Prosthetics:
He draws an analogy between tools and prosthetics, noting that while tools can amplify our capabilities, they can also have negative consequences, such as diminishing our physical abilities.

Socratic Concerns about Writing and Memory:
Kay references Socrates’ concerns about writing potentially diminishing the need for memory and highlights Plato’s ironic treatment of this topic, suggesting that Plato recognized the potential benefits of both writing and memory.

The Power of Combining Reading and Memory:
He emphasizes the advantages of combining reading and memory, enabling individuals to process vast amounts of information efficiently and effectively.

Challenges in Funding Today’s Projects:
Kay observes that modern funders, unlike their predecessors, often conflate responsibility with control, resulting in a lack of support for innovative and ambitious projects.

Licklider’s Approach to Funding:
He shares an anecdote about J.C.R. Licklider, highlighting Licklider’s focus on innovation and his rejection of excessive control over funded projects, contrasting this approach with the current funding landscape.

Understanding the True Nature of Long-Range Research:
Long-range research involves exploration and problem-finding, making it impossible to predict outcomes in advance. Unlike businesses, sports recognize the value of accepting a higher failure rate in pursuit of groundbreaking innovations. Funding agencies need to embrace uncertainty and accept a lower success rate in research to reap significant rewards.

The Difficulty of Funding Long-Range Research:
Misunderstandings and lack of comprehension often lead to hesitancy in funding research that is beyond the funder’s understanding. This attitude fails to recognize that the purpose of scientists is to explore the unknown, not to provide guarantees. Funders should focus on identifying talented individuals and providing them with resources, rather than expecting detailed plans.

The Role of Congress in Research Funding:
Congressional oversight has introduced goal-oriented proposals, which are antithetical to the nature of long-range research. This requirement forces researchers to make unrealistic promises, hindering genuine exploration.

The Importance of Portfolio Investing:
Mathematical evidence supports the effectiveness of portfolio investing, which includes investing in unvetted projects for maximum returns. Universities and businesses understand the benefits of portfolio investing but often fail to apply it to long-range research. This is due to a lack of understanding of the dynamics of talent-driven endeavors like team sports, where rigid structures can stifle creativity.

The Value of Great People and Supportive Environments:
Attracting exceptional individuals is crucial for successful research outcomes. Great people can achieve more than a group of good people combined, making it essential to hire the best. A supportive environment that fosters collaboration among talented individuals is vital for groundbreaking research. Leaders should focus on creating conditions that enable cooperation and synergy, rather than imposing directives or goals.

The Success of Xerox PARC:
Xerox PARC’s achievements were the result of a supportive environment that allowed researchers to work without interference. The company’s focus on ecology and social conditions enabled individuals to collaborate effectively. The lack of constraints allowed the team to make significant progress in a short period of time.