# Keith Packard

> American software programmer

**Wikidata**: [Q92972](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92972)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Packard)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/keith-packard

## Summary
Keith Packard is an American software programmer and computer scientist known for his contributions to the free software movement. He has worked at major technology companies including Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and MIT, and is a member of the X.Org Foundation.

## Biography
- Born: April 16, 1963 in Portland, Oregon
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Reed College
- Known for: Contributions to free software and computer graphics
- Employer(s): Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, SUSE, Compaq, Tektronix, Network Computing Devices
- Field(s): Computer science, software engineering, computer graphics

## Contributions
Keith Packard has made significant contributions to the free software movement and computer graphics. He is a member of the X.Org Foundation, which develops the X Window System used in Unix-like operating systems. Packard has worked at major technology companies including Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and MIT, contributing to software development and computer graphics. He received the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2011 for his contributions to open source software. His work has influenced the development of computer graphics and open source software, particularly in the areas of display servers and graphics drivers.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Keith Packard known for?
A: Keith Packard is known for his contributions to the free software movement, particularly his work on the X Window System and computer graphics. He has worked at major technology companies and received the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2011.

### Q: Where did Keith Packard work?
A: Keith Packard has worked at several major technology companies including Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, SUSE, Compaq, Tektronix, and Network Computing Devices.

### Q: What is Keith Packard's educational background?
A: Keith Packard is an alumnus of Reed College, though specific degree information is not provided in the source material.

## Why They Matter
Keith Packard's work has been instrumental in advancing open source software and computer graphics technology. His contributions to the X.Org Foundation have helped maintain and improve the X Window System, which is fundamental to graphical user interfaces on Unix-like operating systems. Through his work at major technology companies, Packard has influenced the development of graphics drivers and display technologies. His recognition with the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2011 underscores the significance of his contributions to the free software community. Packard's career demonstrates the impact that dedicated software developers can have on both industry and the open source ecosystem.

## Notable For
- Member of the X.Org Foundation
- Recipient of the O'Reilly Open Source Award (2011)
- Contributions to the X Window System and computer graphics
- Work at major technology companies including Intel and Hewlett-Packard
- Advocate for the free software movement

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Keith Packard was born on April 16, 1963, in Portland, Oregon. He attended Reed College for his higher education, though specific degree information is not provided in the source material.

### Career
Packard has had a distinguished career working at major technology companies. His employers have included Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, SUSE, Compaq, Tektronix, and Network Computing Devices. Throughout his career, he has focused on software development and computer graphics.

### Free Software Movement
Packard is associated with the free software movement, which advocates for software freedom and open source development. His work has contributed to the advancement of open source technologies and the principles of software freedom.

### X.Org Foundation
As a member of the X.Org Foundation, Packard has contributed to the development and maintenance of the X Window System. This system is crucial for graphical user interfaces on Unix-like operating systems and has been a cornerstone of open source desktop computing.

### Awards and Recognition
In 2011, Packard received the O'Reilly Open Source Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the open source software community. This award highlights the impact of his work on the broader technology landscape.

## Schema Markup
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  "nationality": {"@type": "Country", "name": "United States"},
  "birthDate": "1963-04-16",
  "birthPlace": {"@type": "City", "name": "Portland", "containedInPlace": {"@type": "Country", "name": "Oregon"}},
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  "knowsAbout": ["Computer Science", "Software Engineering", "Computer Graphics"],
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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013