Hmmm, let's see. I got involved with 3D modeling back on the Amiga computer around 1989 or so, using "Turbo Silver".

I went to college (The Evergreen State College) after that and studied computer programming, and I had always wanted to have a quicker and easier way to make 3D models so I started to focus on that.

One summer at college, I didn't have any classes, and I didn't sleep very much and worked an excessive amount on a new modeling program that I eventually called "Sculptura". This was around 1992 or so. The first place that I demoed it was at the Olympia AutoCAD User's Group, and some people from Robert McNeel & Associates were there and were interested in it, and I started an internship with them. After a couple of quarters I dropped out of school and just switched to a regular job there, and after Sculptura was finished I threw everything out and started over on a brand new modeler that I originally called Sculptura 2.0, but which I eventually re-named to Rhino as a code name which ended up sticking as the final product name.

Right before I joined RMA, there was a deal between RMA and a company called Applied Geometry to try and bring AG's NURBS modeling library technology as a plug-in to AutoCAD (RMA was primarily an AutoCAD dealership at that point). So when I started Sculptura 2.0 (Rhino) I had AG's NURBS technology available to me and that's when I was introduced to working with NURBS. I worked by myself on Rhino for a couple of years while some other people worked on the AutoCAD plug in which was called AccuModel. Eventually I made the case that AccuModel should be canceled and all the effort switched over to Rhino because it was much more promising, and that's what happened.

After 6 years or so at RMA, I decided it was time for a change and I quit and took the summer off. Then I joined Microsoft and worked there for about 4 and half years, on a bunch of stuff that was canceled and then some stuff in MSN. But Microsoft doesn't really do any work on software that is used for creative works, like design, art, sculpture, etc.. I really missed working in this area, so nearly 3 years ago (in November) I quit from there and decided to give a try at doing my 3rd generation modeling program on my own...

As far as NURBS development, it is tricky. It was really confusing for me for a long time when I first started on it, but like a lot of things if you keep studying and working on it, it gets easier and more familiar over time.

Ok, that's plenty enough information about me, I think! ;)

- Michael