Danny Hillis

Co-Founder at Applied Invention

Danny Hillis is a renowned inventor, scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur with a diverse and impressive career spanning several decades.1 2 Here are some key aspects of his background and accomplishments:

Education and Early Career

Danny Hillis received his PhD in Mathematics and Computer Science from MIT in 1982.3 As a student at MIT, he began studying the physical limitations of computation and the possibility of building highly parallel computers.1

Pioneering Work in Parallel Computing

Hillis is best known for pioneering the concept of parallel computers, which now forms the basis for most supercomputers.1 2 His work led to the design of the Connection Machine in 1985, a massively parallel computer with 64,000 processors.1

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Thinking Machines Corporation:: Hillis co-founded this company in 1984 to produce and market parallel computers.1 3

Applied Minds:: He co-founded this interdisciplinary group in 2000, which developed technology solutions for various industries.2 3

Applied Invention:: Currently, Hillis is the co-founder of Applied Invention, an interdisciplinary group of engineers, scientists, and artists that develop technology solutions in partnership with leading companies and entrepreneurs.1 2 3

Other Notable Achievements

Developed the RAID disk array technology used to store large databases.1 2
Holds hundreds of U.S. patents covering various technologies.1 2
Co-founded Metaweb Technologies in 2005, which developed Freebase, later acquired by Google and became the basis for the Google Knowledge Graph.1 2
Co-founder and co-chair of The Long Now Foundation.1 2
Designer of a 10,000-year mechanical clock.1

Academic Positions

Hillis holds several academic positions, including:

Visiting Professor at the MIT Media Lab.1 2
Widney Professor of Engineering and Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC).1 2
Professor of Research Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine.1 2
Research Professor of Engineering at the Viterbi School of Engineering.1 2

Publications and Honors

Hillis has published scientific papers in prestigious journals and authored two books: "Connection Machine" and "The Pattern on the Stone".1 2 He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of several prestigious organizations.1 2

Danny Hillis's career demonstrates a remarkable blend of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and academic contributions, making him a significant figure in the fields of computer science and engineering.