Oral history interview with Ivan Sutherland

Abstract

Following a brief overview of his background, Sutherland describes his tenure as head of the Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) from 1963 to 1965. He discusses the existing programs as established by J. C. R. Licklider, his interaction with the research community, the budget, and the new initiatives started while he was there: projects in graphics and networking, the ILLIAC IV, and the Macromodule program. Other topics covered include: the difficulties of getting qualified people into the office, the impact of IPTO's funding in artificial intelligence, and the review process. This interview was recorded as part of a research project on the influence of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the development of computer science in the United States.