Kenneth (Ken) H. Perlin

Developer of Perlin noise and innovative computer-user interfaces such as zooming user interfaces, Perlin is one of the most respected figures in the field of computer graphics for his work both in industry and academia. He has served as a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at New York University in New York City, founding Director of the Media Research Lab at NYU, and the Director of the Games for Learning Institute. His research interests include graphics, animation, multimedia, and science education. Perlin developed or was involved with the development of techniques such as Perlin noise, hypertexture, real-time interactive character animation, and computer-user interfaces such as zooming user interfaces, stylus-based input, and most recently, cheap, accurate multi-touch input devices.

He has also served as the Chief Technology Advisor of ActorMachine, LLC, which pioneered in the field of ADA (Autonomous Digital Actors) by developing technologies that allowed the creation and directing of emotive digital actors that could be used in linear animation (film/pre-visualization), games, virtual worlds, simulations, or live (real time) performances. His invention of Perlin noise in 1985 became a standard used in both computer graphics and movement. The process of layering multiple transformed and colored layers of Perlin noise and derived forms of noise is used to create a wide variety of naturalistic and chaotic textures in computer graphics — it can be used to very realistically simulate clouds, grass, wood, stone, water, fire, and innumerable other textures.

Perlin was founding Director of the NYU Media Research Laboratory and also directed the NYU Center for Advanced Technology from 1994 to 2004. He served as System Architect for computer generated animation at Mathematical Applications Group, Inc. from 1979–1984, where he worked on Tron. He has served on the Board of Directors of the New York chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH and also on the Board of Directors of the New York Software Industry Association.

He received his B.A. degree in Theoretical Mathematics from Harvard University in 1979, his M.S. degree in Computer Science from New York University, and his Ph.D. in Computer Science from New York University, both in 1984. Perlin has received numerous awards, including the Computer Graphics Achievement Award from ACM SIGGRAPH on August 11, 2008; the Trapcode award for achievement in computer graphics research in 2006; and recognition as the featured artist at the Whitney Museum of American Art in January 2004. In 2002, he received the Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology and the Sokol award for outstanding Science faculty at NYU. In 1997, Perlin won an Academy Award for Technical Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his noise and turbulence procedural texturing techniques, which are widely used in feature films and television; and in 1991, he received a Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation.

He is also an accomplished pianist and classical guitarist, and is fluent in French and Portuguese.