Evolutionary technology just doesn’t appear overnight. There are those who spend years, even a lifetime, conceiving, experimenting, and pushing new, breakthrough technology forward. Several months ago, CAD industry pioneers, those who were present and are intimately familiar with the evolution of this technology, shared their collective knowledge on various areas of computer-aided design during a two-day Zoom workshop sponsored by the Computer History Museum (CHM). The various sessions featured discussions by pioneers in the field who are intimately familiar with the CAD evolution and were figuratively “in the room” during this time, and whose recollections and assessments are now preserved by the Computer History Museum and available to the public.
Since early times, historic knowledge has been preserved and shared through oral communication. More recently, this has evolved into something known as oral history, which involves an observer or participant of an event recording their thoughts, feelings, observations, and so forth on audiotape or videotape.
The Computer History Museum (CHM) is taking a similar tack with its oral history program, which records personal observations and accounts from pioneers in computing and preserves them for posterity. To date, there are more than 1,000 such recordings and interviews from those with firsthand knowledge on a wide range of computing-related subjects and related technological innovation. These accounts entail interviews as well as demonstrations.
In addition, CHM maintains an in-depth archive of additional interviews and discussions with individuals who worked on groundbreaking tech or were witness to or associated with history in the making. According to CHM, the purpose and value of these accounts is outlined on CHM’s website, as they “offer valuable perspectives that enrich the historical narrative and advocate connection through shared experience and personal memory.”
CHM also hosts various workshops throughout the year whose participants lend their historical knowledge garnered from years of experience and who were party (directly or indirectly) to the specific tech during the time of conception, nurturing, and maturation. These discussions, like the personal archives, are now available in transcription form for general consumption.
Here, we highlight several archived discussions from a two-day event focused on computer-aided design (CAD), held May 1–2, 2023. JPR’s founder/CEO Jon Peddie was among the pioneers participating in the event and ensuring discussions. All the sessions were moderated by David C. Brock and Burt Grad, with contributors including Jesse Barker, Carl Bass, Jon Hirschtick, Brad Holtz, Dave Kasik, Tom Lazear, Peter Marks, Joel Orr, Michael Payne, Jon Peddie, and Ken Versprille. The transcripts from the event are available in PDF format and are part of the CHM’s oral history collection.
CAD Pioneer Workshop Introductions
This is a transcription from the opening session of the CAD software pioneer meeting, with each speaker introducing himself and providing a brief overview of his experience as it relates to the CAD industry. The discussion took place during the “Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Pioneer Workshop: Introductions” Day 1, Session 1. The CHM reference number for the transcribed document is 2023.0065, and the catalog number is 102792850.
Key CAD companies (1960–1980)
This is a transcription from a discussion about key companies in the field during the two decades from 1960 through 1980, including a look at companies, their founding, technology, and more. The discussion took place during the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Pioneer Workshop: Key Companies (1960–1980)” Day 1, Session 3. The CHM reference number for the transcribed document is 2023.0065, and the catalog number is 102792852.
Key CAD companies (1980–2000)
This is a transcription from a discussion of key companies in the field during the two decades from 1980 through 2000, including a look at the companies, their founding, technology, and more (some of the companies include Autodesk, TPC, SolidWorks, and OnShape). The discussion took place during the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Pioneer Workshop: Key Companies (1980–2000)” Day 2, Session 6. The CHM reference number for the transcribed document is 2023.0065, and the catalog number is 102792855.
Early CAD technology development (1960–1980)
This is a transcription from a discussion pertaining to this time period when CAD was in its infancy, and how Ivan Sutherland and his Sketchpad, as well as the military, influenced this industry at this time. The discussion was held during the “Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Pioneer Workshop: Early Technology Development (1960–1980)” Day 1, Session 2. The CHM reference number for the transcribed document is 2023.0065, and the catalog number is 102792851.
Later CAD technology development (1980–2000)
This is a transcription from a discussion pertaining to this time period when CAD began maturing with the development of 3D applications and technologies such as data processing and storage. The discussion was held during the “Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Pioneer Workshop: Later Technology Development (1980–2000)” Day 2, Session 5. The CHM reference number for the transcribed document is 2023.0065, and the catalog number is 102792854.
CAD product applications and systems
A transcription from a discussion looking at CAD applications from 1960–1980, including key application areas in which CAD was employed during this period and their subsequent evolution. The discussion was held during the “Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Pioneer Workshop: Applications of CAD Products and Systems” Day 1, Session 4. The CHM reference number for the transcribed document is 2023.0065, and the catalog number is 102792853.
CAD applications and future developments
This is a transcription from a discussion examining the CAD’s usefulness in certain areas, ranging from volumetric modeling and AR/VR, stretching into mobile computing and generative design, in addition to a look at mergers and acquisitions that took place in this industry, and an assessment of which were successful and why. The discussion was held during the “Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Pioneer Workshop: Applications and Future Developments” Day 2, Session 7. The CHM reference number for the transcribed document is 2023.0065, and the catalog number is 102792856.
CHM labels documents such as these as artifacts, and they truly are, providing invaluable insight into the technology that has shaped our world.