David Patterson (computer scientist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Patterson
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David Andrew Patterson
November 16, 1947 Evergreen Park, Illinois, U.S.
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| Education | University of California, Los Angeles (BA, MS, PhD) |
| Known for | Reduced instruction set computer RAID Network of Workstations |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer systems |
| Institutions | University of California, Berkeley |
| Thesis | Verification of Microprograms (1976) |
| Doctoral advisor | David F. Martin Gerald Estrin |
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David Andrew Patterson (born November 16, 1947) is a famous American computer scientist. He has been a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley since 1976. He is known as a computer pioneer because of his important work.
In 2016, he retired from teaching after nearly 40 years. He then became a special software engineer at Google. Today, he helps lead the RISC-V Foundation. He is also a professor emeritus at UC Berkeley, which means he is a retired professor who keeps his title.
Patterson is famous for his work on reduced instruction set computer (RISC) design. He even created the name "RISC." He led the Berkeley RISC project, which changed how computers are built. By 2018, nearly all new computer chips used a RISC design. He also led research on redundant arrays of inexpensive disks (RAID) storage, working with Randy Katz. This technology helps store data safely.
His books on computer architecture, written with John L. Hennessy, are used by many students learning about computers. Patterson and Hennessy won the 2017 Turing Award. This award is like the Nobel Prize for computer science. They won it for their work on RISC.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Patterson grew up in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He went to South High School in Torrance, California. After high school, he studied at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
He earned his first degree in Mathematics in 1969. He then continued his studies at UCLA, getting his Master of Science degree in 1970. In 1976, he earned his PhD in Computer Science. His PhD advisors were David F. Martin and Gerald Estrin.
Computer Research and Career
David Patterson is a key person in developing reduced instruction set computing, or "RISC." He came up with the name "RISC" and led the Berkeley RISC project starting in 1980. In this project, they developed a technique called register windows.
He also helped create redundant arrays of independent disks (RAID) with Randy Katz and Garth Gibson. RAID helps computers store information more reliably. Patterson also led the Network of Workstations (NOW) project. This project was an early step in connecting many computers to work together, known as computer clustering.
Important Roles
David Patterson has held many important positions. He was the head of the Computer Science Division at U.C. Berkeley. He also led the Computing Research Association. From 2003 to 2005, he was on a special committee for the U.S. President about Information Technology. He was also elected president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) from 2004 to 2006.
Notable Students
Many of David Patterson's PhD students have become very successful. Some of them include:
- David Ditzel, who started a company called Transmeta.
- Garth A. Gibson, who helped create RAID. He is also a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Christos Kozyrakis, who is now a professor at Stanford University.
- David Ungar, who designed a computer programming language called Self.
- Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, who is a computer science professor at UW-Madison.
Books and Articles
Patterson has written seven books. Two of his most famous books are about computer architecture, co-written with John L. Hennessy. These books, Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach and Computer Organization and Design RISC-V Edition, have been used as textbooks in universities since 1990.
His most recent book, The RISC-V Reader: An Open Architecture Atlas, is about the open architecture RISC-V. He wrote this book with Andrew Waterman. He has also written many important articles.
Awards and Honors
David Patterson has received about 40 awards for his research, teaching, and service. He is a Fellow of important groups like the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has also been elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences.
In 2005, he and John Hennessy won Japan's Computer & Communication award. In 2007, the Computer History Museum honored him for his contributions to computer education and architecture. He also received the ACM-IEEE Eckert-Mauchly Award in 2008. In 2016, he received the Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award. In 2020, he won the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award.
In 2013, David Patterson even set an American Powerlifting Record for his age group in California! He set records in bench press, deadlift, squat, and all three combined lifts.
On February 12, 2015, the IEEE placed a special plaque at UC Berkeley. It honored the RISC-I microprocessor, which UC Berkeley students designed in 1981. The plaque explains how RISC-I made computers simpler and faster. It says RISC-I influenced many modern devices like game consoles, smartphones, and tablets.
On March 21, 2018, David Patterson and John L. Hennessy received the 2017 ACM A.M. Turing Award. They won this top award for creating a new way to design computer architectures. Their work has had a lasting impact on how microprocessors are made.
In 2022, he received the Charles Stark Draper Prize with John L. Hennessy, Steve Furber, and Sophie Wilson. This award recognized their important work in creating and developing reduced instruction set computer (RISC) chips.
Helping Others
From 2003 to 2012, David Patterson participated in the annual Waves to Wine MS charity event. This was a 2-day bike ride to raise money for multiple sclerosis research. He was the top fundraiser for seven years in a row, from 2006 to 2012.
See also
In Spanish: David A. Patterson para niños
