Silicon Slopes

Silicon Slopes is a nickname given to a region in Utah. The area is found within the Wasatch Front which is found in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Utah. It consists of a chain of cities and towns from Logan, Utah in the North to Nephi in the South.
History
Silicon Slopes' history of technology innovation and growth includes numerous technology milestones have been established in part to the companies founded here or creative minds educated in Silicon Slopes.
;Technology time-line
* 1961 - The creator of computer graphics and a University of Utah Professor, Ivan Sutherland invents the sketchpad. He is also credited as the founder of the GUI.
* 1969 -The University of Utah hosts one of the first four network nodes and first outside of California of the ARPANET.
* 1971 - University of Utah Graduate and Utah native Nolan Bushnell creates the first arcade game called Computer Space. In 1972 Bushnell develops the popular game Pong and starts Atari Computers the same year.
* 1973 - The first artificial arm is developed by University of Utah professor Stephen Jacobsen.
* 1976 - Thomas Stockham, the father of digital audio, makes the first digital recording in 1976. Mr. Stockham was a professor at the University of Utah.
* 1977 - Alan Ashton begins work on a word processing program that goes on to become WordPerfect. By the end of the year Ashton, Don Owens, and Bruce Bastian, start the company Satellite Systems, Inc.
* 1979 - Novell is founded in Utah, establishing itself as the leading NOS provider throughout the 1980s.
* 1980 - Iomega is founded in Utah, producing external storage hardware such as the Zip Drive.
* 1982 - Utah Native and U of U graduate John Warnock co-founds Adobe Systems. Two years later he becomes a professor at the University of Utah, helping establish the school's computer graphics program through his participation as a professor and through additional donations.
* 1982 - Jim Clark, a University of Utah graduate founds Silicon Graphics and goes on to found Netscape.
* 1985 - Pixar is co-founded by University of Utah Graduate Ed Catmull.
* 1989 - Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum created to accelerate growth of new business in Utah.
* 1999 - Internet retailer Overstock.com is launched.
* 2006 - USTAR founded to recruit world-class researchers and to build state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research and development facilities.
* 2006 - Omniture goes public and becomes the most successful technology IPO of 2006.
* 2007 - Symantec acquires Utah based Altiris for $830 million.
Today
There are currently estimated over 5,300 technology and life science companies located within the Silicon Slopes region. In recent years Silicon Slopes has received national acclaim for its technology, entrepreneurship and innovation:
* Utah ranks first in the nation for Economic Dynamism, second for Inventor Patents, fourth for Fastest Growing Firms and fifth for Venture Capital. (Kauffman 2007 State New Economy Index)
* Ogden ranked 1st, Orem 3rd, and Salt Lake City 4th among the most technologically advanced cities in America. (Center for Digital Government, 2006 Digital Cities Survey)
* Brigham Young University is the first university in the nation to receive an IT School accreditation. (Brigham Young University, 2006 Data)
* The University of Utah was recently ranked second best in the nation, only behind MIT, for starting technology companies based on its own research. (AUTM 2008 Survey)
The Silicon Slopes initiative
SiliconSlopes.com was launched in 2007, providing a platform where Utah technology and life Sciences companies as well as other interested parties can come together for news and other resources.
Notable companies and subsidiaries
The following is a partial list of past and present companies founded in the Silicon Slopes or which have a major subsidiary located there:
* 3M
* Adobe Systems, Inc.
* Apple Inc.
* Authorize.net
* Avocent (via acquisition of LANDesk)
* Backcountry.com
* BD Medical
* Boston Scientific
* Brooks Automation
* Cadence Design Systems
* Cephalon
* Clearone
* Comcast
* Computer Associates
* Disney Interactive
* eBay
* Evans and Sutherland
* Franklin Covey
* Henry Schein (via acquisition of Dentrix)
* Hewlett Packard (via acquisition of LogoWorks)
* Ibahn
* IM Flash Technologies
* iMergent
* Instructure
* Intel
* Intuit
* L-3 Communications
* Lexis Nexus
* Logitech (via acquisition of wilife)
* Merit Medical
* Micron Technology (by the acquisition of Timberline)
* Microsoft
* Mozy
* Myriad Genetics
* Novell
* Omniture
* Oracle Corporation
* Overstock.com
* ProPay
* Qualtrics
* Quest Software
* Sento Corporation
* SirsiDynix
* Sorenson Communications
* Symantec
* The Generations Network
* UCN
* Vantage Legrand
Universities
* Brigham Young University
* University of Utah
* Utah State University
* Weber State University
* Utah Valley University

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