Viewpoints Research Institute

Viewpoints Research Institute. It is a non-profit research organization dedicated to reinventing the fundamental concepts of computing and personal computing to make them more powerful and accessible. Founded in the early 21st century, the institute pursues ambitious, long-term projects aimed at creating simpler, more comprehensible software systems. Its work is heavily influenced by the pioneering research conducted at places like the Xerox PARC and seeks to continue that tradition of radical innovation.

History and founding

The institute was established in 2001 by computer science pioneers Alan Kay and Kim Rose, building upon a lineage of transformative research. Kay, a key figure in the development of object-oriented programming and the conceptualization of the Dynabook, sought to create an environment for pursuing "dreams worth having" in computing. The founding was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation and later received significant funding from organizations like the Mozilla Foundation and the Hewlett-Packard company. Its creation was a direct response to the perceived complexity and stagnation in mainstream software development, aiming to recapture the innovative spirit of earlier research labs.

Research focus and projects

The core research mission centers on creating a "real revolution in how we think about and use computers." A major project was the STEPS program, which aimed to create an entire personal computing system, from the graphical user interface down to the metal, in under 20,000 lines of code. This work involved creating new programming languages and environments, such as the COLA architecture and the KScript language. Another significant initiative is the web-focused Croquet project, which developed a collaborative, open-source 3D environment for communication. The institute's research often intersects with constructivist education, exploring how powerful ideas can be taught to children.

Key people and leadership

Leadership and research have been driven by a small group of influential thinkers. Chairman Alan Kay provides the overarching vision, drawing from his seminal work at Xerox PARC, the MIT Media Lab, and Apple's Advanced Technology Group. President Kim Rose, a co-founder, has been instrumental in managing research and development. Notable researchers and collaborators have included David A. Smith, the inventor of FrameWorks; Andreas Raab; and Dan Ingalls, a principal designer of the Smalltalk language. The institute has also fostered the work of visiting scholars and fellows from academia and industry.

Publications and software releases

The institute disseminates its findings through technical reports, academic papers, and open-source software releases. Seminal publications include the "STEPS Toward the Reinvention of Programming" reports and papers on the COLA model. Its software releases are often prototypes demonstrating new concepts, such as the Etoys visual programming environment, which originated from Kay's earlier work on Squeak Smalltalk. The open-source Croquet SDK was a major release that influenced later virtual world platforms. These publications and tools are made freely available to the research community and educators worldwide.

Influence and legacy

Though a small organization, its influence is significant in fields like human–computer interaction, programming language design, and educational technology. The STEPS project's pursuit of minimal, comprehensible systems has inspired ongoing work in software architecture and live coding. The Croquet project's technology contributed to the open-source Open Cobalt project and informed developments in virtual reality collaboration. The institute's steadfast emphasis on "powerful ideas" and systems thinking continues to challenge conventional software engineering practices and inspires research at universities and industrial labs globally.

Category:Non-profit technology organizations Category:Research institutes in California Category:Computer science organizations