Education
In 1978 he received a Doctor of Philosophy in computer science from the College of Engineering at the University of Utah.
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James Blinn
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James F. Blinn is an American computer scientist who first became widely known for his work as a computer graphics expert at National Aeronautics and Space Administration"s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, particularly his work on the pre-encounter animations for the Voyager project, his work on the Carl Sagan Cosmos documentary series and the research of the Blinn–Phong shading model.
Career
In 1970, he received his bachelor"s degree in physics and communications science, and later a master"s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan. Blinn devised new methods to represent how objects and light interact in a three-dimensional virtual world, like environment mapping and bump mapping. He is well known for creating animation for three television series: Carl Sagan"s Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.
Project MATHEMATICS!.
And the pioneering instructional graphics in The Mechanical Universe. His simulations of the Voyager spacecraft visiting Jupiter and Saturn have been seen widely.
Blinn was affiliated with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology until 1995. Thereafter, he joined Microsoft Research, where he was a graphics fellow until his retirement in 2009.
Blinn also worked at the New York Institute of Technology during the summer of 1976.
Achievements
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1983, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Exceptional Service medal for Voyager Fly-by animation. 1983, Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques Computer Graphics Achievement Award. 1989, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Outstanding Contribution Award for Jim Blinn"s corner. 1991, MacArthur Fellowship in recognition of and to allow continuation of his work in educational animation. 1995, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Parsons School of Design for contributions to computer graphics. 1999, Steven Anson Coons Award for Outstanding Creative Contributions to Computer Graphics.
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Born
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Nationality
United States
Education
Awards
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MacArthur Fellowship 1983, NASA Exceptional Service medal for Voyager Fly-by animation. 1983, SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Achievement Award. 1989, IEEE Outstanding Contribution Award for Jim Blinn's corner. 1991, MacArthur Fellowship in recognition of and to allow continuation of his work in educational animation. 1995, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Parsons School of Design for contributions to computer graphics. 1999, Steven Anson Coons Award for Outstanding Creative Contributions to Computer Graphics.MacArthur Fellowship 1983, NASA Exceptional Service medal for Voyager Fly-by animation. 1983, SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Achievement Award. 1989, IEEE Outstanding Contribution Award for Jim Blinn's corner. 1991, MacArthur Fellowship in recognition of and to allow continuation of his work in educational animation. 1995, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Parsons School of Design for contributions to computer graphics. 1999, Steven Anson Coons Award for Outstanding Creative Contributions to Computer Graphics.