Jack Elton Bresenham

Developer of Bresenham's Line Algorithm in 1962, Bresenham is recognized as a pioneer in computer graphics. The algorithm is one of the earliest discovered in the field and determines which points in an n-dimensional raster should be plotted in order to form a close approximation to a straight line between two given points. It is commonly used to draw lines on a computer screen, as it uses only integer addition, subtraction and bit shifting, all of which are very cheap operations in standard computer architectures. The algorithm is used in hardware such as plotters and in the graphics chips of modern graphics cards. It can also be found in many software graphics libraries. Because the algorithm is very simple, it is often implemented in either the firmware or the graphics hardware of modern graphics cards. The label "Bresenham" is used today for a whole family of algorithms extending or modifying Bresenham's original algorithm. The Midpoint circle algorithm shares some similarities to his line algorithm and is known as Bresenham's circle algorithm. He is also the holder of nine patents. Born in Clovis, New Mexico, he received his B.S.E.E. degree from the University of New Mexico in 1959; his M.S.I.E. degree from Stanford University in 1960; and his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1964. He joined IBM in 1960 and retired after 27 years of service as a Senior Technical Staff Member in 1987. He has also served as a professor of Computer Science for 16 years at Winthrop University. His four children are: Janet Lyn, Craig Elton (died 5 September 1963) with wife Barbara Hunt Bresenham, Linda Jo (died 18 August 2008), and David Floyd. with wife Nancy Bull Bresenham. Married Barbara Jean Hunt 1957 (died 5 September1963); Married Nancy Jo Bull 1966 (died 5 August 2021).