Technology
Stephen Wilhite, creator of the GIF, has died
Stephen Wilhite, one of many lead inventors of the GIF, died final week from COVID on the age of 74, based on his spouse, Kathaleen, who spoke to The Verge. He was surrounded by household when he handed. His obituary web page notes that “even with all his accomplishments, he remained a really humble, form, and good man.”
Stephen Wilhite labored on GIF, or Graphics Interchange Format, which is now used for reactions, messages, and jokes, whereas employed at CompuServe within the Nineteen Eighties. He retired across the early 2000s and spent his time touring, tenting, and constructing mannequin trains in his basement.
Though GIFs are synonymous with animated web memes lately, that wasn’t the explanation Wilhite created the format. CompuServe launched them within the late Nineteen Eighties as a technique to distribute “high-quality, high-resolution graphics” in colour at a time when web speeds had been glacial in comparison with what they’re immediately. “He invented GIF all by himself — he truly did that at residence and introduced it into work after he perfected it,” Kathaleen mentioned. “He would determine all the things privately in his head after which go to city programming it on the pc.”
If you wish to go extra in-depth into the historical past of the GIF, the Each day Dot has explainer of how the format grew to become an web phenomenon.
Whereas there have been long-standing debates concerning the right pronunciation of the picture format, Wilhite was very clear on how he supposed for it to be mentioned. In 2013, he advised The New York Occasions, “The Oxford English Dictionary accepts each pronunciations. They’re improper. It’s a tender ‘G,’ pronounced ‘jif.’ Finish of story.”
He reiterated that stance whereas accepting a Webby Lifetime Achievement Award for the invention of the GIF later that month, utilizing an animation to offer his acceptance speech. (You may watch the entire clip of him receiving the award right here.) “After 25 years, they lastly honored that achievement that he did,” Kathaleen mentioned, including that creating the GIF was the factor he was most happy with.
A number of messages from former colleagues on his obituary web page mentioned that Stephen additionally made different essential contributions throughout his time at CompuServe, describing a tough employee who had a significant affect on the corporate’s success.
After Stephen retired, the couple traveled collectively. Kathaleen mentioned that one of the crucial memorable journeys was their honeymoon once they visited the Grand Canyon. “I had by no means seen it earlier than, and he needed to indicate it to me,” she mentioned fondly. The couple additionally went tenting “on a regular basis,” she mentioned.
Whereas at residence, he appreciated to work on his mannequin prepare set. “Once we had the home constructed, we truly had an entire part within the basement for his prepare room. He at all times did the designs and electrical work for the format,” mentioned Kathaleen.
Within the Occasions interview, Wilhite mentioned that certainly one of his favourite GIFs is the dancing child meme, which went viral earlier than “memes” and “going viral” had been extensively used phrases. So right here’s to you, Mr. Wilhite. Thanks for creating the picture format that made downloading colour photographs over dial-up bearable earlier than it became one of many web’s personal languages.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25597794/onesheet_synopsis.jpg "Trailers of the week: Sonic 3, Napoleon, and Agatha All Along")
This week brought a few noteworthy movie and TV trailers — the big one being Sonic the Hedgehog 3. And while I won’t include them here, you should check out some of the trailers included with our coverage of the most recent Nintendo Direct (shoutout to the Nintendo DS Castlevania games collection).
It’s clear that summer is winding down, and so are the big blockbusters. Things will liven up a bit with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice next week, but things are looking quiet for a little bit after that.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 finally brings Sonic’s big nemesis, Shadow, into the mix, played by Keanu Reeves. The trailer only gave a bit of Reeves’ voice but makes up for it with lots of Jim Carrey’s disheveled and depressed Dr. Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik (also played by Carrey). The movie hits theaters on December 25th.
Marvel’s Agatha All Along, the Disney Plus series that follows Kathryn Hahn’s WandaVision villain, will begin streaming soon on September 18th. While the show is looking like it’ll have plenty of comedy, this week’s trailer makes it clear there will be plenty of drama, too.
A new Wallace & Gromit movie means more stop-motion animation, which is something I’ll never get tired of. In this movie, which will hit Netflix in the US this winter, Wallace invents a smart home device (which is a garden gnome) named Norbot. Things go awry when Norbot is surreptitiously controlled by Feathers McGraw, a villain in the Wallace & Gromit world.
Apple released a director’s cut of Ridley Scott’s Napoleon this week on Apple TV Plus. With 48 minutes of extra footage, it sounds like there’s plenty more to watch if you don’t plan on spending Labor Day weekend standing by a barbecue grill.
Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ star says AI can’t ‘duplicate’ Hollywood director Tim Burton’s vision
– Nvidia’s earnings beat Wall Street’s estimates as AI momentum continues
– Experts warn AI could generate ‘major epidemics or even pandemics’ — but how soon?
Justin Theroux attends a photocall for the movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” during the 81st Venice International Film Festival on Aug. 28, 2024, in Venice, Italy. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD VISION: Hollywood actor Justin Theroux argued that artificial intelligence cannot match famous director Tim Burton’s vision.
AI BOOM: Artificial intelligence giant Nvidia released its latest second-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, which beat analysts’ estimates as the company’s AI-driven momentum continued.
ELECTION SEASON FRAUD: Billions of dollars are pouring into the 2024 House, Senate, and presidential elections. I bet you’ve received a call or 10 from folks asking you to pull out your wallet. The pleas come in text form, too, plus there are videos, social media posts and DMs. Here are a few dos and don’ts for keeping your money safe.
Joe Biden is posting on his social media X about his withdrawal from the US Presidential race. US President Joe Biden is ending his reelection campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats are losing faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump, seen in this photo illustration. Taken in Brussels, Belgium, on July 21, 2024. (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
AI-GENERATED PANDEMIC?: Experts researching advancements in artificial intelligence are now warning that AI models could create the next “enhanced pathogens capable of causing major epidemics or even pandemics.”
FUTURE OF FAST FOOD: So, you’re hit with a craving for a mouthwatering Shake Shack burger. Instead of jumping in your car and braving the traffic, you simply grab your phone and place an order through an app. But here’s the twist: Rather than a delivery driver showing up, a friendly little robot rolls right up to your doorstep with your order.
Autonomous delivery robot (Serve Robotics)
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/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25597370/2168837148.jpg "SpaceX resumes Falcon 9 launches after the FAA clears it for flight")
The agency said that while the investigation of the landing incident remains open, flights can continue, “provided all other license requirements are met,” according to CNN. SpaceX had requested a return to flight on Thursday, the same day the FAA initially grounded the rocket, reports Reuters.
Aside from regular Starlink flights, SpaceX is also preparing to launch Polaris Dawn, a private mission to send billionaire Jared Isaacman and three others through the Van Allen radiation belts to perform the first private astronaut spacewalk.
SpaceX is also expected to send two astronauts to the International Space Station on NASA’s Crew-9 mission as soon as September 24th. The US space agency just bumped two astronauts from that mission in order to make room for astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who NASA plans to bring back to earth in February after their Boeing spacecraft was found to be unfit for a crewed return flight.
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