# William Daniel Hillis

> American computer scientist (born 1956)

**Wikidata**: [Q92942](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92942)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Hillis)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-daniel-hillis

## Summary
William Daniel Hillis is an American computer scientist, inventor, engineer, and entrepreneur. Educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he is recognized for his contributions to computer science, for which he has received several prestigious awards and honors.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1956-09-25, Baltimore
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**: Doctor of Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for**: Contributions as an inventor, computer scientist, and entrepreneur
- **Employer(s)**: Applied Minds
- **Field(s)**: Computer science, engineering

## Contributions
William Daniel Hillis has contributed to his fields as an inventor, computer scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur. His work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Grace Murray Hopper Award in 1989 and the Dan David Prize in 2002. In 1994, he was named a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), a significant honor in the field of computing.

His academic foundation was built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a Ph.D. under the advisement of computer science pioneers Marvin Minsky, Gerald Jay Sussman, and Claude Shannon. His professional career includes employment at Applied Minds. The long-term significance of his work is acknowledged by the preservation of his archives at the Computer History Museum and the inclusion of his works in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

## FAQs
### Q: What is William Daniel Hillis's educational background?
A: William Daniel Hillis earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His doctoral advisors were Marvin Minsky, Gerald Jay Sussman, and Claude Shannon.

### Q: What major awards has William Daniel Hillis received?
A: He has received several awards, including the Grace Murray Hopper Award in 1989, the Dan David Prize in 2002, and was named an ACM Fellow in 1994.

### Q: Who were William Daniel Hillis's academic advisors?
A: At MIT, his doctoral advisors were Marvin Minsky, Gerald Jay Sussman, and Claude Shannon. He was also a student of Richard Feynman.

## Why They Matter
The significance of William Daniel Hillis in the field of computer science is demonstrated through his academic lineage, professional recognition, and institutional honors. Having earned his Ph.D. from MIT under the guidance of foundational figures like Marvin Minsky and Claude Shannon, his work is rooted in a rich intellectual tradition. His influence is confirmed by prestigious awards such as the Grace Murray Hopper Award and the Dan David Prize, which recognize significant contributions to technology and science.

His election as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery and as a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences places him in the top tier of his profession. The preservation of his archives by the Computer History Museum and the inclusion of his work in the Museum of Modern Art's collection further solidify his lasting impact on the history of computing and invention.

## Notable For
- **Prestigious Awards**: Recipient of the Grace Murray Hopper Award (1989) and the Dan David Prize (2002).
- **Academic Distinction**: Named a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 1994 for his contributions to computing.
- **Pioneering Mentorship**: Earned his Ph.D. from MIT, where his doctoral advisors were computer science pioneers Marvin Minsky, Gerald Jay Sussman, and Claude Shannon.
- **High Honors**: Elected as a member of both the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- **Historical Significance**: His personal and professional archives are preserved for their historical value at the Computer History Museum.

## Body
### Personal Life and Education
- **Birth Name**: William Daniel Hillis
- **Born**: September 25, 1956, in Baltimore.
- **Nationality**: United States.
- **Family**: He has a sibling named David Hillis.
- **Education**: Hillis was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
- **Advisors and Mentors**: His doctoral advisors at MIT were Marvin Minsky, Gerald Jay Sussman, and Claude Shannon. He was also a student of Richard Feynman.

### Career and Occupations
- **Primary Fields**: Computer science, engineering, invention.
- **Occupations**: His professional roles include computer scientist, inventor, engineer, entrepreneur, and writer.
- **Employer**: He has been employed by Applied Minds.

### Awards and Honors
- **Grace Murray Hopper Award**: Received in 1989.
- **ACM Fellow**: Named a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery in 1994.
- **Dan David Prize**: Received in 2002.
- **Academy Memberships**: He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.

### Legacy
- **Archives**: His archives are held at the Computer History Museum.
- **Museum Collections**: He has works in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

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## References

1. LIBRIS. 2018
2. Mathematics Genealogy Project
3. [Source](https://dandavidprize.org/previous-laureates/?getby=cat&cat=2002)
4. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award-recipients/hillis_4558874)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Open Library
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients)
10. [Source](http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102702101)
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. IdRef
13. Goodreads
14. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File