Silicon Graphics facts for kids
Silicon Graphics, Inc. (often called SGI) was a company that built powerful computers. These computers were special because they were amazing at creating and showing 3D graphics. SGI was started by Jim Clark and Abbey Silverstone in 1982. Their first goal was to make special screens for computers that could display graphics really well.
SGI became very famous for making computers that helped create 3D animation, video effects, and cool pictures. Many of the ideas and technologies they invented are still used by other companies today.
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What Was Silicon Graphics?
Silicon Graphics, or SGI, was a company known for its high-tech computers. These machines were not like the regular computers you might use at home. They were built for very specific and demanding tasks.
SGI computers were especially good at handling complex graphics. This made them popular in industries that needed powerful visual tools. They helped bring many amazing digital creations to life.
How SGI Started
The company was founded in 1982 by two people, Jim Clark and Abbey Silverstone. Jim Clark was a professor at Stanford University. He had a big idea for making computers better at graphics.
At first, SGI focused on making "graphics display terminals." These were special screens and systems that could show advanced computer graphics. This was a new and exciting field at the time.
What SGI Computers Did
SGI computers were used for many cool things. They were often found in movie studios, helping to create special effects and animated films. Imagine seeing dinosaurs in a movie that looked real – SGI computers often played a part in making that happen!
They were also used by engineers and scientists. These professionals needed to see complex designs or data in 3D. SGI machines helped them visualize everything from car parts to weather patterns.
Famous Uses of SGI
Many well-known movies and projects used SGI technology. For example, the special effects in films like Jurassic Park and Terminator 2: Judgment Day were created using SGI workstations. This showed how powerful their computers were.
SGI also helped create graphics for TV shows, commercials, and even some early video games. Their technology made digital worlds look more realistic and exciting.
SGI's Impact on Technology
SGI invented many important things that changed how computers work with graphics. They developed special chips called "Geometry Engines." These chips made it possible for computers to draw 3D shapes very quickly.
Many of their ideas became standard in the computer world. Even today, the way modern graphics cards work has roots in SGI's early innovations. They truly pushed the boundaries of what computers could do visually.
Images for kids
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SGI headquarters on Amphitheatre Parkway, after it became the Googleplex, circa 2006
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Geometry Engine chip from an IRIS 3120
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SGI Indigo
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SGI Indy
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SGI Octane
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SGI Onyx
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SGI O2
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SGI Tezro Workstation
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SGI 540 Visual Workstation
See also
In Spanish: Silicon Graphics para niños
