TECH STORIES: Life & Work of Seymour Cray

Summary

Seymour Cray, a pioneering engineer in the field of supercomputing, revolutionized the world of high-performance computing with innovations such as the CDC 6600 and Cray-1. From his early passion for electronics to his creation of Cray Research, Cray’s work accelerated scientific advancements across various industries. His groundbreaking designs, including the use of freon cooling and gallium arsenide chips, pushed the limits of computing power. Despite passing away in a car accident in 1996, Cray's legacy lives on through his lasting impact on the world of supercomputing, making him a true visionary in technology.

Takeaways

• 😀 Seymour Cray was a pioneering electronics engineer and one of the founding fathers of the supercomputer industry.
• 😀 He is credited with developing the CDC 6600, considered the first supercomputer, and innovated with the use of freon to cool computer chips.
• 😀 Cray started his own company, Control Data Corporation (CDC), and later founded Cray Research, which revolutionized the supercomputer market.
• 😀 A fan of Star Trek, Cray incorporated aesthetic elements such as transparent blue glass in his computer designs.
• 😀 Cray's early interest in engineering was evident when, as a child, he built automatic telegraphs and wired his bedroom with alarms.
• 😀 After serving as a radio operator in the U.S. Army during World War II, Cray pursued his education, earning degrees in electrical engineering and applied mathematics.
• 😀 Cray's work at Engineering Research Associates (ERA) led to the creation of the UNIVAC 1103, the first commercially available digital computer.
• 😀 Despite his success, Cray became disillusioned with corporate bureaucracy at CDC and eventually left to start Cray Research in 1972.
• 😀 The Cray-1, released in 1976, used vector processing and outperformed previous supercomputers, becoming a crucial tool for scientific research.
• 😀 Cray continued to innovate with the Cray-2 in 1985, which featured 2 billion bytes of memory and significantly improved processing speed.
• 😀 Later in his career, Cray focused on developing gallium arsenide chips, which offered increased speed and efficiency compared to silicon-based chips.
• 😀 Seymour Cray passed away in 1996 from injuries sustained in a car accident, but his legacy continues to influence cutting-edge scientific research worldwide.

Q & A

Who is Seymour Cray and what is he known for?

Seymour Cray is an electronics engineer and one of the founding fathers of the supercomputer industry. He is best known for pioneering the development of large and powerful supercomputers, including the creation of the first supercomputer, the CDC 6600, and his work on the Cray series of supercomputers.

What was unique about the CDC 6600 that set it apart from other computers of its time?

The CDC 6600, developed by Cray, was considered the first true supercomputer. It was unique for its use of freon cooling to prevent overheating of its 350,000 transistors, making it more powerful and efficient than previous computers.

How did Seymour Cray contribute to the supercomputer industry through his company, Cray Research?

Seymour Cray founded Cray Research in 1972, where he designed the Cray-1, the first computer to incorporate vector processing, significantly increasing computational power. Cray Research produced some of the most powerful supercomputers, such as the Cray-2, which had 2 billion bytes of memory and could perform 1.2 billion operations per second.

What role did Cray's early life and education play in his career as an engineer?

Cray showed early talent for engineering, having built an automatic telegraph machine by the age of 10. His parents supported his scientific interests, providing him with a basement laboratory. Cray studied electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota, which set the foundation for his later career in electronics and supercomputing.

How did Seymour Cray's relationship with William Norris influence his career?

William Norris, a colleague at Sperry Rand, played a significant role in Cray's career. Norris founded Control Data Corporation (CDC) and invited Cray to join the company. This partnership led to the development of several early supercomputers, including the CDC 6600, before Cray eventually left CDC to found Cray Research.

Why did Seymour Cray leave Control Data Corporation (CDC) to start his own company?

Cray left CDC due to growing dissatisfaction with the bureaucracy and corporate atmosphere there. Despite CDC's success, Cray felt constrained and wanted more freedom to innovate, leading him to establish Cray Research in 1972.

What were the notable innovations in the Cray-1 supercomputer?

The Cray-1, introduced in 1976, incorporated revolutionary vector processing, allowing it to perform multiple calculations simultaneously. This design significantly outpaced other computers of its time, making it the fastest and most powerful supercomputer of the 1970s.

What were the challenges Seymour Cray faced with the development of gallium arsenide chips?

Cray faced significant challenges when working with gallium arsenide chips, as they were fragile and difficult to handle. However, these chips were an important advancement, as they conducted electrical impulses with lower resistance than silicon, providing faster and more energy-efficient computing.

How did Seymour Cray's personal interests, such as his love for Star Trek, influence his work?

Cray's passion for Star Trek, a science fiction show about space travel, inspired him to incorporate aesthetically pleasing designs into his supercomputers. For example, he included transparent blue glass in his machines to reveal their inner workings, reflecting his interest in both technology and design.

What was Seymour Cray's legacy in the field of computer science after his death?

Seymour Cray's legacy lives on through the continued use of his supercomputers in cutting-edge scientific research. His innovations in computer architecture, particularly in vector processing and cooling systems, have had a lasting impact on the supercomputing industry.