Redmond A. Simonsen (1942-2005)

Redmond A. Simonsen died last week. You probably don’t know who he was—I did, but only just barely. So go over to Greg Costikyan’s blog to find out from someone who was there:

[B]efore computers were anything that existed outside academia and government, Redmond taught me about UI. He taught me about the importance of graphical representation of information, how showing could be vastly more important than explaining, how a clever visual system could transform a game from mediocrity to fascination. Before digital games existed, he taught me the importance of math in games, the use of algorithmic systems to create gameplay.

Thanks, Redmond, for making the trees green (by way of four-color printing).

Update: NY Times Obituary.