A Biography of the Pixel (Leonardo)

As someone who was BLOWN AWAY by Toy Story in 1995 as a high school kid, this movie just inspired me to study computers later in life... I picked this book up because I wanted to learn more about computer graphics (geometry in, pixels out) and the history and how it all worked and how it happened... this book delivers.This book isn't a light read, I have a technical background, and I was very enjoyable (I read it in 3 days), but for someone who doesn't have a semi-technical background, they may get lost. There isn't any math, but you do need some background IMO.I know this book took Alvy 10 years to write (50+ to live) and it's a masterpiece that will give future generations an understanding of how far we've come (because of Moore's Law) and the creativity of using those computational cycles.I will be re-reading this book in the years to come, the paper version is beautiful, as you would expect from someone who co-founded Pixar.

An amazing work by someone who actually helped invent the field that weaves the mathematical and visual underpinnings of the complex art that Alvy calls "Digital Light". I had so many misunderstandings about events over the years -- like Steve Jobs inventing Pixar, that were cleared up.Since the computationally intense digital "movies" that began with "Toy Story" are now melding with most feature films and are included in most video games, definitely worth reading today.Not only fascinating so it keeps your attention, but gives insights so that I find myself gazing at a movie screen and saying "so that's how they do it!"One surprise is a description of both the quality of the algorithms required, but also the raw computing power needed to accomplish even the most basic visual manipulation.

Good historical background of Fourier waves, sampling theory with pictures (and no detailed math formulas), and development of first computers.Lots of entertaining details of Alvy’s career in the early computer graphics era including some places I personally crossed paths with him and others mentioned in the book.Very enjoyable read and trip down memory lane in the exciting realm of computer animation that was a huge part of my life too.

Digital media has made and transformed our world. What are its roots, central principles, how did it evolve, who were the men and women who made it so? This book is a wonderful account of how simple, profound ideas came together to redefine how we transmit images and ideas - in short, how modern digital culture came to be. The author, an early computer animation researcher and artist who went on to be a co-founder of Pixar, was a significant player in that transformation. And anyone who has listened to Alvy Ray Smith talk over the years knows that he is a talented and engaging story-teller. But he can also knock out great stories in print, and this book is jammed with them. With an eye on scientific and historical rigor, and a great sense of what makes a story worth telling, this is a fun and lively way to understand and appreciate some key concepts in how our modern world came about. Highly recommended!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I bought the Kindle version and the paperback—I would have bought a hardback if there was one! There were lots of illustrations and photos that were easier to see in the paperback. I have read a lot of books about technology spanning the last 70-80 years or so, and I enjoyed the items that connected with those books and enhanced them. And this was the lead-up to “Toy Story”, which is one of my all-time very favorite movies! I enjoyed reading about all the interconnections between all the folks who Alvy worked with and his giving well-deserved credit to them all. This is one of those books that I want to read again, just for all the great references.

Well written, full of interesting details that explain how our modern digital world is created by authors, artists, programmers, scientists and dreamers. Full of interesting stories as well as explaining technology in easy yet powerful explanations.

The idea of this book was interesting to me. I'm an engineer and I expected a lot of insights into the technical side of developing digital imaging, both still images and video. I've been disappointed with the content of the book. It provides WAAAAAY more information on the complicated lives of the mathematicians Fourier and Kotelnikov than I cared to read. That narrative was dry, and seemed disjointed from the rest of the story. That part of the book held no interest for me and made it difficult to finish reading the whole thing. I just don't care about the historical personal struggles of the people behind the math that made digital light possible. Others might enjoy that aspect of the story more than the technical discussions. Just beware of what you are buying before diving in.

I’m happy about the fast shipping but the brand new book came with bent corner pages which is unacceptable to a book lover.