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Sketchpad, by Dr. Ivan Sutherland with comments by Alan Kay

David Carroll · demo · Watch on YouTube

History of computingGUI, HCI & interface historyComputer graphics & rendering

What it is

Earliest known footage of Ivan Sutherland's MIT PhD work, Sketchpad, the first computer graphics system, with commentary by Alan Kay. It shows light-pen drawing with constraints in a short clip.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN points people to it as the canonical demo of early interactive graphics, constraints and objects, and as one of Alan Kay's favorite things to show.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2013, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “one of Alan Kay's favorite demos over the years has been to show folks Sketchpad,”

    Kay's favorite demo showing how much 1962 achieved

    crdrost, 2024-07 · Strong recommendation · in “Defense of Lisp macros: The automotive field as a case in point”

  2. “For anyone who has never seen it, Sketchpad, from the 60s”

    Sketchpad demo with Alan Kay commentary

    aidos, 2016-02 · Recommendation · in “Programming computer animation in 1964 [video]”

  3. “A short clip of Sketchpad presented by Alan Kay”

    Short Sketchpad clip presented by Alan Kay

    Jach, 2022-04 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: Best way to learn about computing history?”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: sketchpad, ivan sutherland, alan kay, computer graphics, constraints

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