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Martin Newell (computer scientist)
Encyclopedia
Martin Newell is a British-born computer scientist
specializing in computer graphics
who is perhaps best known as the creator of the Utah teapot
computer model.
Before emigrating to the USA, he worked at what was then the Computer-Aided Design Centre (CADCentre) in Cambridge, UK, along with his brother Dr. Richard (Dick) Newell
(who went on to co-found two of the most important UK graphics software companies - Cambridge Interactive Systems (CIS) in 1977 and Smallworld
in 1987). At CADCentre, the two Newells and Tom Sancha developed Newell's algorithm
, a technique for eliminating cyclic dependencies when ordering polygons to be drawn by a computer graphics system.
Newell developed the Utah teapot while working on a Ph.D. at the University of Utah
, where he also helped develop a version of the painter's algorithm
for rendering
. He graduated in 1975, and was on the Utah faculty from 1977 to 1979. Later he worked at Xerox PARC
, where he worked on JaM, a predecessor of PostScript
. JaM stood for "John and Martin" - the John was John Warnock
, co-founder of Adobe Systems
.
He founded the computer-aided design
software company Ashlar
in 1988. In 2007 Martin Newell was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
. He recently retired as an Adobe Fellow at Adobe Systems
.
Computer scientist
A computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application in computer systems....
specializing in computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
who is perhaps best known as the creator of the Utah teapot
Utah teapot
The Utah teapot or Newell teapot is a 3D computer model which has become a standard reference object in the computer graphics community. It is a mathematical model of an ordinary teapot of fairly simple shape, which appears solid, cylindrical and partially convex...
computer model.
Before emigrating to the USA, he worked at what was then the Computer-Aided Design Centre (CADCentre) in Cambridge, UK, along with his brother Dr. Richard (Dick) Newell
Dick Newell
Dr. Richard G. Newell has spent over 30 years in the software industry in Computer aided design and Geographic Information Systems .Dick holds degrees in Civil Engineering and Numerical Analysis and a PhD in Chemical Engineering....
(who went on to co-found two of the most important UK graphics software companies - Cambridge Interactive Systems (CIS) in 1977 and Smallworld
Smallworld
Smallworld was a GIS company founded in Cambridge, England, in 1989 by Dick Newell and others. It grew to become the global market leader for GIS in utilities and communications, according to Daratech. In September 2000, it was acquired by GE Energy, a division of General Electric...
in 1987). At CADCentre, the two Newells and Tom Sancha developed Newell's algorithm
Newell's algorithm
Newell's Algorithm is a 3D computer graphics procedure for elimination of polygon cycles in the depth sorting required in hidden surface removal...
, a technique for eliminating cyclic dependencies when ordering polygons to be drawn by a computer graphics system.
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, where he also helped develop a version of the painter's algorithm
Painter's algorithm
The painter's algorithm, also known as a priority fill, is one of the simplest solutions to the visibility problem in 3D computer graphics...
for rendering
Rendering (computer graphics)
Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model , by means of computer programs. A scene file contains objects in a strictly defined language or data structure; it would contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting, and shading information as a description of the virtual scene...
. He graduated in 1975, and was on the Utah faculty from 1977 to 1979. Later he worked at Xerox PARC
Xerox PARC
PARC , formerly Xerox PARC, is a research and co-development company in Palo Alto, California, with a distinguished reputation for its contributions to information technology and hardware systems....
, where he worked on JaM, a predecessor of PostScript
PostScript
PostScript is a dynamically typed concatenative programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is best known for its use as a page description language in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. Adobe PostScript 3 is also the worldwide printing and imaging...
. JaM stood for "John and Martin" - the John was John Warnock
John Warnock
John Edward Warnock is an American computer scientist best known as the co-founder with Charles Geschke of Adobe Systems Inc., the graphics and publishing software company. Dr. Warnock was President of Adobe for his first two years and Chairman and CEO for his remaining sixteen years at the company...
, co-founder of Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
.
He founded the computer-aided design
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
software company Ashlar
Ashlar-Vellum
Ashlar-Vellum, a dba of Ashlar Incorporated, is a developer of Computer-aided design and 3D modeling software for both the Macintosh and Microsoft Windows platforms. Ashlar-Vellum’s interface, designed in 1988 by Dr...
in 1988. In 2007 Martin Newell was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
. He recently retired as an Adobe Fellow at Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
.