Personal and Professional History of Jim Plummer and John Hennessey:
Jim Plummer and John Hennessey, both former assistant untenured professors at Stanford, shared offices and a secretary approximately 30-35 years ago. Plummer founded Silicon Graphics, the first of his successful companies, while Hennessey co-founded MIPS, later acquired by Silicon Graphics.

Stanford Engineering Heroes Program:
Honors individuals affiliated with Stanford Engineering School who have significantly impacted the world. Aims to recognize and celebrate those who have made substantial contributions to society.

Honored Individuals in the Program:
Jerry Yang, David Philo, John Bloom, Marty Hellman, Fred Terman, Bill Hewlett, Dave Packard, and Vince Cerf, among others.

Purpose of the Program:
Provides honored individuals with an opportunity to spend time at Stanford, interacting with students and sharing their expertise and insights. Encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mentorship.

Jim Plummer’s Entrepreneurial Journey:
Founded Silicon Graphics, a company rooted in technology developed at Stanford. Silicon Graphics played a crucial role in designing various products, including the Boeing 777. Co-founded Netscape, revolutionizing internet interaction and accessibility. Involved in Shutterfly and HealthyOn, demonstrating a diverse range of impactful ventures.

Philanthropic Contributions:
Jim Plummer’s generous philanthropic efforts have supported initiatives such as the Clark Center, fostering interdisciplinary programs at the intersection of engineering and medicine.

Non-Traditional Path:
John Hennessy (Jim Clark) faced a non-traditional path to his education. At the age of 16, he dropped out of school and joined the Navy. He gained various experiences in the Navy, including running a loan business.

Building Confidence:
While attending school in the Navy, Clark discovered his aptitude in algebra. He excelled in the course and was asked to teach it at night. This experience boosted his confidence and motivated him to put more effort into his studies.

Loan Business:
Clark started a loan business using the proceeds from his teaching job. He had no duties while attending school and spent his time listening attentively in class. He consistently achieved top成績 in his exams, inspiring him to pursue his education more seriously.

Background and Early Education:
John Hennessy’s unconventional journey began with his enrollment in the Navy after graduating from high school. He served on ships for several years, not fully satisfied with his duties, and eventually ended up in Louisiana.

Discovering a Passion for Academics:
While in the Navy, Hennessy took night school courses at Tulane University, earning excellent grades in finite math, English, and differential calculus. Inspired by his academic success, he applied to Texas Tech University near his hometown and got accepted.

Balancing Work, Family, and Education:
Hennessy worked full-time while attending Texas Tech, supporting his wife and son. Despite the challenges, he maintained a high grade point average, though not straight A’s.

Exposure to Computing and Early Achievements:
Hennessy moved back to Louisiana and joined Boeing during the Saturn V program. He gained exposure to computing and learned to write programs. Hennessy significantly improved the efficiency of a computer by converting a program to use an idle disk drive, reducing its usage time from 24 hours to 2-3 hours per day.

Boeing’s Support and Pursuing Graduate Studies:
Boeing recognized Hennessy’s talent and allowed him to work flexible hours, enabling him to study extensively at night. The company also covered the expenses for the rest of his education. Hennessy’s grades continued to improve, and he eventually left Boeing to pursue graduate studies.

Mentorship and Inspiration at the University of Utah:
Hennessy pursued a PhD in physics but later switched to computer science. At the University of Utah, he encountered influential mentors like Ivan Sutherland and Chuck Seitz, who inspired and supported him. These mentors played a crucial role in his career trajectory, leading to job opportunities at the University of California and beyond.

Computer Graphics at the University of Utah:
The University of Utah was a hub for computer graphics research during Hennessy’s time there. Ivan Sutherland’s groundbreaking work on Sketchpad had established the university as a leader in the field.

Origins of Computer Science at Utah:
David Evans, a physicist and Mormon, was recruited from UC Berkeley to start a new computer science department at the University of Utah in the early 1970s. During this time, Ivan Chuck TomStockham, known for developing the original Redbook recording format for compact CDs, taught signal processing at Utah.

Hennessy’s Time at Utah:
Hennessy took classes from Evans, TomStockham, and others at Utah, gaining exposure to graphics architecture and signal processing. He graduated in 1974 and moved to California.

Hennessy’s Journey to Berkeley:
Hennessy initially turned down a job offer from Berkeley and instead pursued a position at the University of California, Santa Cruz. After four years at Santa Cruz, he decided to move to Berkeley but faced challenges due to his previous rejection. He eventually secured an appointment at Berkeley through the help of Manuel Bloom but lost the job due to negative comments he made about his supervisor at New York Institute of Technology.

Hennessy’s Connection with Ed Catmull:
Hennessy joined Ed Catmull, founder of Pixar, at the New York Institute of Technology for a short period. He left the institute after a negative experience with the management.

Hennessy’s Return to Stanford and Collaboration with Roger Howe:
Hennessy returned to Stanford and met Roger Howe, who introduced him to Forrest Baskett, who was leading the DARPA VLSI program. Hennessy joined the VLSI program as a non-tenure track associate professor. He and Howe worked on moving the program’s focus from CAD tools to VLSI architecture and capability.

Inspiration for the Geometry Engine:
The idea for the geometry engine came from David Evans and Ivan Sutherland’s work on specialized hardware for graphics at the University of Utah. Hennessy had gained knowledge of graphics architecture during his time at Utah and Evans & Sullivan Computer Company.

Hennessy’s Collaboration with Curt Akeley:
After joining Stanford, Hennessy met Curt Akeley, a graduate student who had built and written software for a laser printer as an undergraduate. Akeley’s work impressed Hennessy, and he became part of the VLSI project, contributing to its success.

Founding of Silicon Graphics:
John Hennessy, along with a small group of individuals, came together to develop a graphics architecture based on an idea Hennessy had. Hennessy recruited his team from Stanford to start Silicon Graphics, with the goal of creating a working version of their graphics architecture as a springboard for starting a company.

The Vision for Specialized Graphics Hardware:
Hennessy’s core idea was to use custom graphics hardware to perform computations necessary for intensive three-dimensional graphics. Despite skepticism that specialized hardware would be necessary due to the rapid advancements in CPU speeds, Hennessy believed in the potential of this approach.

Initial Development and Challenges:
The team initially focused on developing the geometry engine chip, which employed an elegant and beautiful architecture. While the geometry engine idea was sound, Kurt Akeley and others discovered a more efficient approach during the company’s early stages.

Market Success and the Rise of GPUs:
Silicon Graphics eventually went to market with a more refined version of their graphics architecture, which laid the foundation for modern GPUs. Today, GPUs are ubiquitous in electronic devices, ranging from phones to computers, and are often manufactured by companies like NVIDIA.

NVIDIA’s Role and the Expansion of Silicon Graphics:
NVIDIA emerged as a significant player in the GPU market, hiring many members of the Silicon Graphics team as the company grew rapidly. Silicon Graphics’ initial motivation was driven by the mechanical CAD market, but its success extended beyond this niche.

The Broad Impact of Silicon Graphics:
Silicon Graphics’ impact extended beyond engineering design, revolutionizing simulation, entertainment, and animation. John Hennessy recognized the potential of 3D graphics in various fields. The company’s efforts to make 3D graphics usable and accessible contributed to its broad adoption.

The Creation of OpenGL:
Microsoft’s attempts to create a proprietary graphics interface prompted Silicon Graphics to develop OpenGL. Kurt Akeley and others played a crucial role in defining and releasing OpenGL as an open standard. OpenGL became the standard for 3D graphics, used in various devices, including phones and games.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Time:
The success of Silicon Graphics and other companies like Sun Microsystems, Apollo Computer, and Cisco Systems highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of the time. Andy Bechtolsheim’s efforts in developing a bitmap display and the installation of one of the first academic three-megabit-per-second Ethernet networks at Stanford contributed to the rise of these companies.

Silicon Graphics’ Market Position:
Silicon Graphics focused on high-performance workstations with 3D graphics capabilities, targeting a niche market with higher price points. John Hennessy recognized the potential for moving down-market to reach a broader audience but faced challenges due to the company’s inertia and successful margins at the high end.

The Formation of Netscape:
John Hennessy’s departure from Silicon Graphics led to the founding of Netscape. Netscape’s success was attributed to the timing and the recognition of the potential of the internet. The company’s web browser, Netscape Navigator, became a dominant force in the early days of the web.

Origins of Netscape:
John Hennessy, co-founder of MIPS and Stanford professor, met with Mark Andreessen, co-founder of Mosaic, at a coffee shop in Palo Alto. Hennessy was impressed by Andreessen’s leadership and brilliance and offered jobs to several of the young engineers working on Mosaic.

Key Decisions:
Netscape decided to give away its browser software, called Netscape Navigator, for free. However, companies using it for commercial purposes would have to pay for a license. This strategy attracted a large number of users and helped Netscape quickly gain market share.

Release and Success:
Netscape Navigator was released in January 1995 and quickly gained popularity. Servers struggled to handle the high demand for downloads due to the extensive media attention surrounding the browser’s release.

Future Considerations:
Hennessy spent considerable time contemplating how Netscape’s browser would be utilized. One of the individuals hired by Netscape eventually became a key figure in the development of the internet search engine, Google.

DARPA’s Role in VLSI and Netscape:
DARPA’s funding was crucial for the VLSI project’s success, enabling research and development of advanced semiconductor technologies. Similarly, Netscape benefited from government funding, which supported the development of secure communication protocols like SSL.

University Research and Innovation:
The involvement of MIT professors like Ron Rivest in the RSA algorithm and John Hennessy’s team’s work on SSL demonstrates the importance of university research in driving innovation.

Entrepreneurial Spirit and Commercialization:
The commercialization of VLSI technology and the founding of Netscape exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that transforms research into practical applications.

Ecosystem for Innovation:
The interplay of government funding, university research, and entrepreneurial drive creates a vibrant ecosystem that fosters innovation and technological advancements.

Starting Silicon Valley Businesses with Government Funding:
Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, Cisco, and Google were all funded with DARPA money, and Uniper was formed out of Stanford. John Hennessy believes that government funding combined with an enlightened university policy, such as Stanford’s, is crucial for entrepreneurship. Hennessy left Stanford to start a business because physics had a culture that discouraged business ventures, while Stanford encouraged it.

The Changing Landscape of Silicon Valley:
Roger Howe and John Hennessy discuss how Silicon Valley has changed over the past 30 years. Hennessy believes that Silicon Valley has changed fundamentally, and he is not impressed with the social network phenomenon that has emerged in recent years. Howe suggests that the change in Silicon Valley may be a generational thing.

Hennessy’s Decision to Return to the West Coast:
Hennessy is moving back to the West Coast because he believes it is a better environment for his young daughter to grow up and get educated. He does not consider Florida, Texas, or New York to be comparable to the West Coast.

Focus and Hard Work:
John Hennessy believes that excessive time spent on social media platforms like Facebook hinders productivity and the pursuit of meaningful achievements. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, focus, and concentrated study, rather than relying on quick schemes for success.

Short-Term Goals vs. Long-Term Impact:
Hennessy expresses concern that many businesses today are focused on short-term gains and quick flips, such as the Instagram and Tumblr models, rather than building lasting enterprises with significant impact. He believes this mindset instills an unrealistic expectation of achieving wealth quickly without substantial effort.

Silicon Graphics’ Early Days:
Roger Howe recalls Hennessy’s intense work ethic during the early days of Silicon Graphics, particularly while developing the geometry engine. Howe mentions an incident where Hennessy’s electricity was turned off due to an unpaid bill, highlighting his dedication to his work at the expense of personal matters.

Opportunities at Stanford:
Hennessy expresses his desire to spend more time at Stanford in the future. He sees interesting opportunities for making significant breakthroughs, such as the potential to revolutionize education and healthcare through technological advancements.

Journey to BioX:
John Hennessy desired to return to Stanford as a faculty member after his entrepreneurial endeavors. He found a passion for biology and was inspired by the work of Greg Kovacs. Hennessy realized the potential of interdisciplinary research and conceived the idea for BioX.

The Creation of BioX:
Hennessy and John discussed the idea of BioX over several months and eventually convinced other colleagues. Hennessy donated money to help start BioX, which focused on fostering cross-disciplinary research.

Departure from Stanford and Return to Entrepreneurship:
Hennessy left Stanford for Florida and pursued personal interests like programming and home control systems. He eventually felt dissatisfied and yearned to return to the intellectual environment of Stanford and BioX. Hennessy convinced his wife to move back to California after a visit to Napa Valley.

Reflections on Netscape:
Hennessy shared his experiences during the Netscape era, including the rivalry with Microsoft. He expressed his belief that Netscape had a good business model but was unsure if it was sustainable in the long run. Hennessy discussed the merger with AOL and the subsequent acquisition by Time Warner.

The Importance of Capital-Intensive Companies:
Hennessy acknowledged the challenge of starting capital-intensive businesses. He emphasized the need for businesses that produce tangible goods and services. Hennessy encouraged entrepreneurs to seek funding from investors who understand the long-term potential of their ventures.

Google’s Influence on the Business Landscape:
Google’s dominance as an exit strategy for many companies can stifle diverse business activities.

Synthetic Biology’s Potential:
Hennessy expresses interest in the field, citing its fascinating developments, particularly in neuroscience.

Building Compute Structures for Brain Modeling:
Hennessy seeks to contribute to the understanding of the brain by creating compute structures that aid neuroscientists.

Investing Preferences:
Hennessy engages in personal investments but prefers to avoid venture capital firms.

Shutterfly’s Early Days:
Hennessy highlights Shutterfly’s pioneering role in digital picture services and archives.

Financial Challenges and Regulations:
Shutterfly faced bankruptcy risks, leading Hennessy to provide financial support. SEC regulations restricted Hennessy’s involvement in the company’s leadership due to the loan.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act:
John Hennessy criticizes the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Sarbox) for being poorly conceived, especially for small companies. Despite its flaws, Sarbox has become well-run and successful.

Health Care Innovations:
Hennessy expresses pessimism about healthcare innovations due to massive government intervention and entrenched players profiting from waste. He explains why he no longer wants to get involved in the healthcare industry.

Michael Lewis’ Book:
Hennessy describes Michael Lewis as a gifted writer, entertaining, and intelligent. He appreciates Lewis’ writing and plans to read his upcoming book on the finance industry. Through Lewis, Hennessy met smart people involved in a promising new business investment in New York.

Interdisciplinary Breakthroughs:
Hennessy emphasizes the significance of crossing disciplines for breakthrough ideas. He shares his experience transitioning from physics to computer science, specifically graphics.

Fong Shading:
Hennessy recalls his contributions to computer graphics, particularly a shading technique named Fong Shading. He explains how his different perspective from physics led to this breakthrough. He credits Fong for pursuing the idea and obtaining a PhD for it.

PhD in Computer Science:
Hennessy expresses surprise at receiving a PhD in computer science for what he considered a simple idea. He acknowledges that the standards for PhDs have changed over time. He highlights the value of bringing diverse experiences from different fields to drive innovation.

Computer Graphics Evolution:
Hennessy marvels at the advancements in computer graphics, which now produce highly realistic environments. He acknowledges that these virtual environments are modeled on the lighting properties of physics.

DARPA VLSI Project:
The DARPA VLSI project aimed to introduce computer systems thinking to the semiconductor manufacturing industry, traditionally dominated by electric engineers with a data-oriented approach.

John Hennessy’s Experience:
John Hennessy had the opportunity to take a course on VLSI design during his first summer at Xerox PARC, based on the principles laid out by Len Conway and Carter Mead. This experience enabled him to gain a comprehensive understanding of transistor and VLSI circuit design, revolutionizing his perception of architecture on silicon. Hennessy played a role in the early stages of MIPS but later became preoccupied with his own projects due to limited knowledge in CPU architecture.

Importance of Fiber Optics in Internet:
Fiber optics plays a crucial role in the efficiency of internet transmission. While coax cables can be used, they are less efficient compared to fiber optics.

John Hennessy’s Perspective on Failures:
Hennessy acknowledges that people tend to overlook failures, especially as they age. He emphasizes the significance of failures in shaping personal and professional growth, including incidents like getting kicked out of school or being fired. Hennessy believes that dwelling on failures can magnify their impact, and it is better to focus on successes.

Roger Howe’s Observation of John Hennessy’s Drive:
Howe observed Hennessy’s intense determination to succeed with his ideas during the early days of their collaboration. Hennessy’s energy and enthusiasm inspired the team, including Kurt and Tommy Davis, to strive for success. Howe suggests that Hennessy’s earlier experiences contributed to his drive and ambition to achieve significant accomplishments.