Over the years, PARC has made significant contributions to the computer industry, including the development of the Smalltalk programming language, graphical user interface (GUI), Ethernet networking and laser printing. It continues to be on the cutting edge of technology. Although well known throughout the high-tech world, PARC was one of several Xerox research centers until early 2002, when it was spun off as a separate subsidiary. See Xerox.
PARC
PARC is located in the Stanford University Industrial Park in Palo Alto, California. (Image courtesy of Palo Alto Research Center; Brian Tramontana, photographer.)
![]() | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Wither Silicon Valley? IT will be driven by emerging markets
- WTF does "dead-cat" mean?Dear ZDnet,Please stop trying to make-up terms like "dead-cat" or "dead-finger". Nobody cares.SheeshWell good morning Mr. Happiness and feel good vibe. I wish I could take credit for dead cat bounce but the term has been around---oh let's say---FOREVERhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_cat_bounceRE: Wither Silicon Valley? IT will be driven by...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-19
- The 10 biggest moments in IT history
- Missing: Tim Berners-Lee?The Mouse, and the GUI ...... without the invention of the mouse or the GUI/WYSIWYG there would not be as many users as there are today, and I would hazard a guess that it would be restricted to business applications like accounting, and Data Analysis.LudoRE: The 10...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-21
- Elvis, your e-passport is ready!
- E-passports not only threaten your personal safety traveling, the RFID chips are easy to clone and fake. How easy? Here's the picture of Elvis Presley's e-passport: The photo is taken from a passport scanner at a Dutch airport - no alarms or errors....
- Blog posts 2009-07-19
- The future of... Dressing rooms
- Need to update your business wardrobe, but don't have the time to scrutinize yourself in the fitting room mirror? Researchers at PARC are working on putting an end to dressing room indecision. ZDNet correspondent Sumi Das meets up with the brains behind the "responsive mirror" and tries the technology on...
- Blog posts 2009-07-15
- Don't hold off on summer purchases for CrunchPads
- Don't hold off on summer purchases for CrunchPadsI'm waiting...Just wait... the rumors are out that there's an Apple touch pad similar to the CrunchPad...I am in no way saying the Apple branded Crunchpad will be better, have more features, or be any faster. I can say it'll probably have...
- Discussion threads 2009-07-07
- The future of... Dressing rooms
- Need to update your business wardrobe, but don't have the time to scrutinize yourself in the fitting room mirror? Researchers at PARC are working on putting an end to dressing room indecision. ZDNet correspondent Sumi Das meets up with the brains behind the "responsive mirror" and tries the...
- Videos 2009-07-06
- (Photos: Inside the Palo Alto Research Center)
- (Photos: Inside the Palo Alto Research Center)Not just Ethernet, laser printing, etc.A little-known fact: Google's fundamental search and relevance algorithms were also developed at Xerox PARC. They bought the rights to the IP in 2000 with the Outride acquisition. Outride was spun out of Xerox PARC.
- Discussion threads 2009-02-11
- We live in media as fish live in water
- The other day I was looking for a quote by Ted Nelson, a computer pioneer and maverick thinker. I found it: "We live in media as fish live in water." This is very descriptive of our daily lives, imho. As I searched, I was reminded of...
- Blog posts 2009-02-05
- What
- WhatExplaining IT behavior, what we're missingJust a guess but I think it has a lot to do with what you've talked about earlier, the social dimension to all of this. I would add that there's a cultural factor.Having been a part of the Windows world where I occasionally visit, I...
- Discussion threads 2009-01-27
- The Mac at 25: GUI battles in business
- The Mac at 25: GUI battles in businessSystem 7 was the worst OS I've ever usedShudder, that thing was S...L...O...W... Well, that's not totally true. It would crash really fast, really often. The whole System 7, 8, 9 line was absolutely terrible. It wasn't until Apple gave up trying to...
- Discussion threads 2009-01-23
- The Macintosh turns 25 (and how it was almost a Bicycle)
- The Macintosh turns 25 and how it was almost a BicycleMacintoshI bought my own Macintosh 512K computer in the UK on the 18 December 1984 at a cost of £2175 (US$ 2958). I still have it at home and I see that Stephen Fry regrets giving his Macintosh away in...
- Discussion threads 2009-01-23
- Microsoft Big Brains: Chuck Thacker
- Microsoft Big Brains: Chuck ThackerOne of the creators and influencers of the modern computerI read "Bottlers of Lightning", the book about Xerox Palo Alto Research Center PARC where so much of the current computer landscape originated: Ethernet, Windows with Mouse control, WYSIWIG, Laser Printers, etc. etc. and where Thacker contributed...
- Discussion threads 2009-01-16
- Worlds.com patent litigation could ripple through virtual worlds
- Worlds.com patent litigation could ripple through virtual worldsQuake 3 predates this patent by two yearsQuake 3 would seem to run counter to this patent, as would Tribes, and several other online games from the 90s. The core concepts of such online interactions were also presented in the 90s movie...
- Discussion threads 2008-12-30
- Apple sued over Apple TV, Airport Express and Mac
- Apple sued over Apple TV, Airport Express and MacAnd so then I guessthat Papermaster [i][b]was[/b][/i] hired just to run the "iPod division"Apple would never think of having him lend a hand in their server products developement.This Apple TV case may just prove how "true" the above mentioned statement is... ;)It...
- Discussion threads 2008-12-19
- Can Microsoft innovate? Should we care?
- Microsoft's new Chief Software Architect, Ray Ozzie, recently said that Microsoft's reactive culture may be the company's greatest liability as an innovator. But we don't need an innovative Microsoft. Simple competence would be improvement enough. Ozzie's comments in an article by the excellent Steven Levy in...
- Blog posts 2008-12-07
- The Green Enterprise: PARC VP: Lowering costs with clean tech
- Scott Elrod, VP of the hardware systems lab at PARC, says that lowering costs is key in clean tech. By looking at their ink jet technology and applying it to solar cells, the company was able to come up with a lower price per wattâ€"making solar an even more cost-effective...
- Blog posts 2008-12-03
- A 1968 computer demo that changed people's lives
- Can a computer demo change people's lives? I've seen plenty in my time but none that moved me in any significant way. Yet 40 years ago, Doug Engelbart gave a demo that did change people's lives and changed the entire course of computer systems development. On Monday...
- Blog posts 2008-12-02
- Short clip: PARC on how to hire innovators
- Scott Elrod, VP of the hardware systems lab at PARC, explains how the company really got into clean tech. By hiring curious and passionate people, management doesn't even need to hand down directivesâ€"employees get together and start these things all on their own.
- Videos 2008-12-02
- How to hire innovators
- Scott Elrod, VP of the hardware systems lab at PARC, explains how the company really got into clean tech. By hiring curious and passionate people, management doesn't even need to hand down directivesâ€"employees get together and start these things all on their own. by Administrator
- Blog posts 2008-12-02
- Short clip: PARC on detecting cancer with laser printing tech
- Scott Elrod, VP of the hardware systems lab at PARC, explains how the company applied its history of laser printing technology to the bio-medical field and came up with the fastest method for scanning slides for cancer cells available today.
- Videos 2008-12-02
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
- How to Drive Better Business Outcomes with Exceptional Web Experiences Download the eBook
- Driving Business Agility through SOA Connectivity & Integration Read the White Paper from IBM
- Linking Decisions and Information for Organizational Performance Read the Tom Davenport study



