James H. Clark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James H. Clark
|
|
|---|---|
Clark in 2013
|
|
| Born |
James Henry Clark
March 23, 1944 |
| Alma mater | University of Utah University of New Orleans |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy Rutter Kristy Hinze (m. 2009) |
| Children | 4 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer science Computer graphics |
| Institutions | Silicon Graphics Netscape New York Institute of Technology Stanford University |
| Thesis | 3-D design of free-form B-spline surfaces (1974) |
| Doctoral advisor | Ivan Sutherland |
James Henry Clark (born March 23, 1944) is an American entrepreneur and computer scientist. An entrepreneur is someone who starts new businesses. A computer scientist studies how computers work and how to make them better.
He started several famous tech companies in Silicon Valley. These include Silicon Graphics, Netscape, myCFO, and Healtheon. His work in computer graphics helped create systems that could quickly show three-dimensional computer images.
In 1998, Clark was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was because of his work in computer graphics and his leadership in the computer industry.
Contents
Early Life and School
Clark was born in Plainview, Texas, on March 23, 1944. He left high school when he was 16 years old. After that, he spent four years in the US Navy. There, he learned about electronics.
Clark then started taking night classes at Tulane University. Even though he didn't finish high school, he earned enough credits. This allowed him to get into the University of New Orleans. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in physics there. Later, he earned a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Utah in 1974.
Clark's Career
Working in Universities
After getting his doctorate, Clark worked at the New York Institute of Technology's Computer Graphics Lab. He later became an assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He worked there from 1974 to 1978.
Then, he moved to Stanford University in 1979. He became an associate professor of electrical engineering. Clark's research focused on "geometry pipelines." These are special software or hardware tools. They help speed up how three-dimensional images are shown on a screen.
In 1979, he and his students at Stanford created the Geometry Engine. This was an early piece of hardware. It helped computers create images much faster based on geometric shapes.
Starting Silicon Graphics
In 1982, Clark and some of his students from Stanford started a company called Silicon Graphics (SGI). At first, Silicon Graphics made graphical workstations that were mainly terminals. These were like powerful computers used for special tasks.
Soon, they started making stand-alone graphical Unix workstations. These computers had very fast graphics hardware. In the mid-1980s, Silicon Graphics began using the MIPS CPU. This made their new workstations even better.
By 1991, Silicon Graphics was a world leader. Their technology was used to create visual effects in Hollywood movies. It was also used for other 3-D imaging. Silicon Graphics focused on high-end customers. This allowed them to charge more for their special hardware and software.
Clark had different ideas about the company's future. Because of these disagreements, he left Silicon Graphics in January 1994.
Creating Netscape
In February 1994, Clark looked for Marc Andreessen. Andreessen had helped create Mosaic. Mosaic was one of the first easy-to-use programs for looking at the World Wide Web.
Clark and Andreessen then started a new company called Netscape. They developed the Netscape Navigator web browser. Netscape's launch and its IPO (when its shares were first sold to the public) in August 1995 helped start the Internet boom. This was a time when many Internet companies grew very quickly. Clark's first investment in Netscape was $4 million. When Netscape was bought by AOL in 1999, his investment was worth $1.2 billion.
Healtheon and WebMD
In 1995, Clark became interested in making healthcare paperwork simpler. He started a company called Healtheon in early 1996. It aimed to remove all the paperwork and bureaucracy from medical care.
While this goal was very big, Healtheon did help make medical records technology more organized. Another company, WebMD, was also working on similar ideas. WebMD focused on providing medical information online.
Clark decided to combine Healtheon with WebMD. This created the WebMD Corporation (NASDAQ: WBMD). Today, WebMD is a leading source of health information on the Internet.
Other Companies and Projects
In 1999, Clark started myCFO. This company helped wealthy people in Silicon Valley manage their money. Most of myCFO's operations were later sold to Harris Bank in 2002. It now operates as Harris myCFO.
Clark was also a chairman and investor in Neoteris. This company focused on network security. It was later bought by NetScreen in 2003.
He also helped start DNA Sciences in 1998. This biotechnology company aimed to understand the genetics of common diseases. It used volunteers who signed up online.
Clark was the main subject of a popular book from 1999. It was called The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story by Michael Lewis.
Clark also helped produce the 2009 movie The Cove. His money helped buy special cameras and sound equipment. This equipment was used to film the dolphin slaughter shown in the movie. The film highlights the problem of whale and dolphin hunting in Taiji, Wakayama, Japan.
Clark is also an investor in Ibotta, a mobile technology company. Ibotta became a publicly traded company in April 2024. In 2017, Clark launched CommandScape. This is a secure system for managing and automating buildings. In 2020, he announced funding for Beyond Identity. This product uses phone-based security to remove the need for passwords.
Awards and Honors
Clark has received many awards for his work.
- In 1984, he received the ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Achievement Award.
- In 1996, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- In 1997, he received a Kilby International Awards. This award honored his vision in computer graphics. It also recognized his work in helping people share information online.
- In 1988, he won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Northern California.
- The University of East Anglia gave him an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1998.
Personal Life
Clark has been married four times and has four children. He married Australian model Kristy Hinze in 2009. She is his fourth wife. They have two daughters, Dylan Vivienne and Harper Hazelle.
In 2022, he made a very large real estate sale in Florida. He sold a 22-acre property for about $175 million.
Yachting
Clark loves sailing. He enjoys one-day races in calm waters. These include the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and off Newport, Rhode Island. He has owned several large and famous sailing yachts.
He used to own two important sailing yachts:
- Hyperion: This was the world's largest sloop when it was launched in 1998. It was about 47.5 meters (156 feet) long. Clark even developed his own computer system for the yacht. This system helped control the boat and improve its sailing. He sold Hyperion in 2004.
- Comanche: This is a 30.48-meter (100-foot) carbon fiber yacht. It was built for winning offshore races. Comanche won the 2015 Sydney-Hobart race. It also won the 2015 Transatlantic race. In that race, it set a new 24-hour speed record for single-hull boats. In 2016, it set a new record for the Newport to Bermuda Race. Comanche was sold in December 2017.
He still owns two other large sailing yachts:
- Athena: This is a 90-meter (295-foot) three-mast aluminum schooner. It has been for sale since 2012.
- Hanuman: This yacht is a copy of the 42.1-meter (138-foot) J-Class Endeavour II. It has been for sale since 2012.
Flying
Clark is also a pilot. He enjoys flying helicopters, gliders, and acrobatic aircraft.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Clark has given a lot of money to Stanford University. He was once a professor there. In 1999, he promised $150 million to build the James H. Clark Center for Biomedical Engineering. This center helps with research that combines different areas of science.
In 2001, he changed his pledge. He was upset about some government rules on stem cell research. He said that government funding is very important for research in the United States. He didn't want to fund research that could be stopped for political reasons. The rules he was concerned about were later lifted in 2009.
In 2013, Clark promised another $60 million to Stanford. This money was for research that combines life sciences, technology, and engineering. He fully completed his commitment in 2020. He also gave an extra $10 million to fund fellowships at the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics.
In 2004, Clark and David Filo (who co-founded Yahoo!) each gave $30 million to Tulane University's School of Engineering. This money was for scholarships. These scholarships help students who deserve to study engineering, no matter their financial situation.
Clark is also on the board of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). He gives money to this organization, which works to protect nature.
See also
In Spanish: James H. Clark para niños
- Catmull–Clark subdivision surface, a 3D modeling technique Clark helped invent.
