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Seymour R. Cray
(28 Sep 1925 - 5 Oct 1996)
American electronics engineer who is called “the father of supercomputing” as the preeminent designer of large, high-speed computers.
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Science Quotes by Seymour R. Cray (8 quotes)
Five year goal: Build the biggest computer in the world. One-year goal: Achieve one-fifth of the above.
— Seymour R. Cray
As quoted in Toby Howard, 'Seymour Cray: An Appreciation', Computer World (Feb 1997).
I talk to myself through the computer. I ask myself questions, leave things to be looked at again, things that you would do with a notepad. It turns out today that it’s much better today to do with a personal computer rather than a notepad.
— Seymour R. Cray
In transcript of a video history interview with Seymour Cray by David K. Allison at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, (9 May 1995), 30.
I was one of those nerds before the name was popular. I spent all my time in the electrical engineering laboratory and not enough time socializing.
— Seymour R. Cray
In transcript of a video history interview with Seymour Cray by David K. Allison at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, (9 May 1995), 4.
I’m supposed to be a scientific person but I use intuition more than logic in making basic decisions.
— Seymour R. Cray
In transcript of a video history interview with Seymour Cray by David K. Allison at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, (9 May 1995), 30.
If you were plowing a field, which would you rather use? Two strong oxen or 1024 chickens?
[Comparing the power of supercomputers versus parallel computing.]
[Comparing the power of supercomputers versus parallel computing.]
— Seymour R. Cray
Attributed. Seen as a quote in several books, but without citation. For example, in Craig Larman, Applying UML and Patterns (2002), 475. If you know a primary source, please contact webmaster.
My guiding principle was simplicity.
— Seymour R. Cray
As quoted in Toby Howard, 'Seymour Cray: An Appreciation', Computer World (Feb 1997).
One of my guiding principles is don’t do anything that other people are doing. Always do something a little different if you can. The concept is that if you do it a little differently there is a greater potential for reward than if you the same thing that other people are doing. I think that this kind of goal for one’s work, having obviously the maximum risk, would have the maximum reward no matter what the field may be.
— Seymour R. Cray
In transcript of a video history interview with Seymour Cray by David K. Allison at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, (9 May 1995), 29.
We have elves here, and they help me. … While I’m digging in the tunnel, the elves will often come to me with solutions to my problem.
— Seymour R. Cray
Revealing the secrets of his success, in a legend told by colleague, John Rollwagen, about Cray showing his house to a visiting French scientist, and a tunnel that Cray was building under it. Cray explained that when he reached an impasse in his computer design, he would retire to the tunnel to dig. As quoted in Toby Howard, 'Seymour Cray: An Appreciation', Computer World (Feb 1997).
See also:
- 28 Sep - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Cray's birth.
- The Supermen: The Story of Seymour Cray and the Technical Wizards behind the Supercomputer, by Charles J. Murray. - book suggestion.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
