Dr Alvy Ray Smith is the co-founder of two successful startups: Pixar, an animation studio which was sold to Disney, and Altamira, a software company which was sold to Microsoft. Smith also co-founded the Lucas film Computer Division which developed computer graphics software including early renderer technology. As director of... Read more
Dr Alvy Ray Smith is the co-founder of two successful startups: Pixar, an animation studio which was sold to Disney, and Altamira, a software company which was sold to Microsoft.
Smith also co-founded the Lucas film Computer Division which developed computer graphics software including early renderer technology. As director of the Computer Graphics Project, he created and directed the “Genesis Demo” in The Wrath of Khan, and conceived and directed the short animated film The Adventures of Andre and Wally B., starring the animator John Lasseter. He proposed and negotiated the Academy-Award winning Disney computer animation production system, CAPS.
Smith was an original member of the Computer Graphics Lab of the New York Institute of Technology and was the First Graphics Fellow at Microsoft.
While at Xerox PARC, he witnessed the birth of the personal computer and received two technical Academy Awards, for the alpha channel and digital paint systems. He invented the first full-colour paint program, the HSV (or HSB) colour transform, and the alpha channel.
Smith was instrumental, as a Regent, in initiating the Visible Human Project of the National Library of Medicine and was a star witness in a trial that successfully invalidated five patents that threatened Adobe Photoshop. He was also active in the development of the HDTV standard.
Smith holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and an honorary doctorate from New Mexico State University. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists.
Alvy Ray Smith is the creator of many pieces of computer art, including Sunstone in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
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You can book Alvy Ray Smith through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Alvy Ray's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Alvy Ray Smith's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Alvy Ray tailored to your event.
Alvy Ray Smith speaks on Future & Technology. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Alvy Ray to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Alvy Ray Smith for events worldwide, subject to Alvy Ray's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Alvy Ray Smith is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Alvy Ray can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Alvy Ray Smith on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Alvy Ray can offer.
Alvy Ray Smith delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Alvy Ray Smith's areas of expertise include Future & Technology. To get a clear sense of Alvy Ray's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Alvy Ray Smith can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Future & Technology is relevant. Details of Alvy Ray's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Alvy Ray Smith is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Alvy Ray Smith, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Alvy Ray's current availability for your dates.