Awarded the 11th Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Information and Communication Technologies, computer engineer Ivan Sutherland reflects in this interview on how his pioneering contributions to graphical interaction and virtual reality environments transformed the way people interact with computers. From his early display systems to concepts that influenced the modern graphical interface, Sutherland explains how his work laid the foundation for fundamental technologies such as computer graphics and interactive displays. His reflections highlight the importance of creativity and a forward-thinking approach in computer engineering, and how these advances have shaped the development of the interactive software and hardware we use today.
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Information and Communication Technologies category has gone in this eleventh edition to American
Awarded the 11th Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Information and Communication Technologies, computer engineer Ivan Sutherland reflects in this interview on how his pioneering contributions to graphical interaction and virtual reality environments transformed the way people interact with computers. From his early display systems to concepts that influenced the modern graphical interface, Sutherland explains how his work laid the foundation for fundamental technologies such as computer graphics and interactive displays. His reflections highlight the importance of creativity and a forward-thinking approach in computer engineering, and how these advances have shaped the development of the interactive software and hardware we use today.
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Information and Communication Technologies category has gone in this eleventh edition to American computer engineer Ivan Sutherland, for “pioneering the move from text-based to graphical computer displays,” in the words of the citation.
00:00 Introduction
00:05 Could you explain how you first came up with the idea of Sketchpad, the first graphical user interface for computers?
00:43 What were your objectives when you created your first headset of what we now know as virtual reality? Did you foresee the future development of this technology?
01:23 What do you believe have been the most important applications your work has achieved so far for computer users?
01:58 Looking to the future, how do you think graphical computer interfaces will develop, and what future impact will this technology have on people’s lives?
