Steve Alcorn
Encyclopedia
Steve Alcorn is an American entrepreneur
, engineer
, inventor, author
and teacher
best known for his involvement in the theme park industry. As a co-founder of MicroDaSys, he was an early pioneer of computer peripherals.
, in 1973 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from UCLA in 1977. He was a Hughes Aircraft Company master’s fellow from 1977 through 1979.
In 1982 he joined Walt Disney Imagineering
(then known as WED Enterprises) as a consultant, where he worked on the electronic systems for Epcot Center. During his two years with Imagineering he designed show control systems for The American Adventure
, wrote the operating system used in the parkwide monitoring system, and became Imagineering’s first Systems Engineer, heading up mechanical, electronic and software systems for the Journey Into Imagination
ride.
In 1985 he became Vice President of Engineering and later Chief Operating Officer for Linn Electronics, the inventors of the digital drum machine
. He reshaped the engineering department and assembled a team to work on the problem-plagued Linn 9000 drum machine, and designed the Linn Sequencer and Linn Drum Midi Studio.
In 1986 he founded Alcorn McBride & Associates, predecessor to Alcorn McBride Inc. The company initially concentrated on providing engineering services to the music industry, designing products for Akai
, 360 Systems and Forat Electronics. In 2010 the company was named to Inc Magazines fastest growing companies list for the third time. In 2011 the company celebrated its 25th anniversary.
In 1988 Mr. Alcorn designed the company’s first show controller, the V16, which was used in Wonders of Life
at Epcot, and later became the parkwide standard throughout most of the world’s theme parks. He also directed the team that developed the "Digital Binloop" multi-track audio system that is used in nearly every major theme park attraction. In 2003 he won the Florida Governor’s Award recognizing his "Digital Video Machine" high definition
player as the year’s best new product.
He is the author of two books about the theme park industry: Building a Better Mouse and Theme Park Design
Through Internet instruction provider Education To Go, Mr. Alcorn teaches online classes at 1600 universities and colleges worldwide. His classes include "Write Fiction Like A Pro", "Mystery Writing", and "Advanced Fiction Writing". He also teaches a class in "Imagineering" at Imagineeringclass.com
He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Linda McBride, since 1978. They have one child, Dani Alcorn.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, inventor, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
best known for his involvement in the theme park industry. As a co-founder of MicroDaSys, he was an early pioneer of computer peripherals.
Biography
Born in 1956, Steve Alcorn graduated from the Harvard School for Boys, now Harvard-Westlake SchoolHarvard-Westlake School
Harvard-Westlake School is an independent, co-educational university preparatory day school consisting of two campuses located in Los Angeles, California with approximately 1,600 students enrolled in grades 7 through 12....
, in 1973 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from UCLA in 1977. He was a Hughes Aircraft Company master’s fellow from 1977 through 1979.
In 1982 he joined Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide...
(then known as WED Enterprises) as a consultant, where he worked on the electronic systems for Epcot Center. During his two years with Imagineering he designed show control systems for The American Adventure
The American Adventure
The American Adventure is the host pavilion of the World Showcase within Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort. It is also the name of the pavilion's main attraction, an Audio-Animatronics stage show of American history.-Layout:...
, wrote the operating system used in the parkwide monitoring system, and became Imagineering’s first Systems Engineer, heading up mechanical, electronic and software systems for the Journey Into Imagination
Journey Into Imagination
Journey Into Imagination With Figment is an attraction which is contained within The Imagination! Pavilion at the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World and opened on March 5, 1983. It has been through three incarnations over the years, two of them featuring Figment, a small purple dragon, as a...
ride.
In 1985 he became Vice President of Engineering and later Chief Operating Officer for Linn Electronics, the inventors of the digital drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
. He reshaped the engineering department and assembled a team to work on the problem-plagued Linn 9000 drum machine, and designed the Linn Sequencer and Linn Drum Midi Studio.
In 1986 he founded Alcorn McBride & Associates, predecessor to Alcorn McBride Inc. The company initially concentrated on providing engineering services to the music industry, designing products for Akai
Akai
Akai is a consumer electronics brand, founded by Saburo Akai as , a Japanese manufacturer in 1929. It is now headquartered in Singapore as a subsidiary of Grande Holdings, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, which also owns the formerly Japanese brands Nakamichi and Sansui. The Akai brand is now used...
, 360 Systems and Forat Electronics. In 2010 the company was named to Inc Magazines fastest growing companies list for the third time. In 2011 the company celebrated its 25th anniversary.
In 1988 Mr. Alcorn designed the company’s first show controller, the V16, which was used in Wonders of Life
Wonders of Life
The Wonders of Life pavilion was an attraction at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The pavilion was devoted to health and body related attractions. It is located inside a golden colored dome between Mission: SPACE and the Universe of Energy...
at Epcot, and later became the parkwide standard throughout most of the world’s theme parks. He also directed the team that developed the "Digital Binloop" multi-track audio system that is used in nearly every major theme park attraction. In 2003 he won the Florida Governor’s Award recognizing his "Digital Video Machine" high definition
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
player as the year’s best new product.
He is the author of two books about the theme park industry: Building a Better Mouse and Theme Park Design
Through Internet instruction provider Education To Go, Mr. Alcorn teaches online classes at 1600 universities and colleges worldwide. His classes include "Write Fiction Like A Pro", "Mystery Writing", and "Advanced Fiction Writing". He also teaches a class in "Imagineering" at Imagineeringclass.com
He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Linda McBride, since 1978. They have one child, Dani Alcorn.
Publications
- Everything In Its Path,
- A Matter of Justice,
- Ring of Diamonds (under a pseudonym)
- Travel Kid, a pictorial travel journal,
- With David Green. Building a Better Mouse: The Story of the Electronic Imagineers Who Designed EPCOT. Orlando, Fla, Theme Parks, Inc, 2007. ISBN 9780972977739
- Theme Park Design: Behind the Scenes with an Engineer. Orlando, FL, Theme Perks Inc, 2010. ISBN 9781456309725