Shading Languages and the Emergence of Programmable Graphics Systems

Explore the evolution of computer graphics and programmable graphics systems in this distinguished lecture by Pat Hanrahan, renowned computer scientist and Turing Award recipient. Delve into the development of shading languages and their pivotal role in creating realistic renderings for movies and games. Learn about the challenges of designing rendering systems that can handle complex shapes, materials, and lighting while producing artifact-free images. Discover how Pixar's RenderMan revolutionized the film industry and how shading languages were adapted for real-time use on graphics processing units (GPUs). Gain insights into the transformation of GPUs into powerful data-parallel computers, enabling applications in high-performance computing and machine learning. Examine the broader implications of these advancements for the field of computing and understand why GPUs are now considered the fastest computers in the world.

Allen School Distinguished Lecture: Pat Hanrahan (May 16, 2023)