Randy Pausch Posthumously Makes Star Trek Cut

Randy Pausch, the founder of the Alice software project, inspired millions of people with his brave fight against pancreatic cancer, particularly through his highly-publicized "last lecture" that outlined how to achieve your childhood dreams. Pausch, who was also a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and a video game-related veteran, passed away in July 2008 at the age of 47, but one of his own dreams will come true when film director J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek movie debuts this Friday. A very small speaking role featuring Pausch made it into the final version of the film. Pausch plays a crewman on the bridge of the Starship Kelvin, CMU's media relations department pointed out in an email. Pausch's line?: "Captain, we have a visual." In 2007 at CMU, following his diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer, Pausch -- co-founder of the Entertainment Technology Center at the university -- delivered "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." Millions have watched the video, seeking inspiration. He said one of his dreams was playing the role of Star Trek icon Captain Kirk. Just months later, director Abrams sent Pausch an email saying, "[I] can't promise you [a] role as CAPTAIN, but... we could do SOMETHING!" He revealed that he donned a Star Trek uniform and played the role in late 2007, but only now has it been confirmed that he made the cut. Byron Spice with CMU's school of computer science media relations department said a new version of Pausch's Alice educational game environment is now being beta-tested. The software "enables novices to make 3-D computer animations," Spice said. Alice3 will be available for download this summer, said Spice. In addition, Pausch's former colleague MK Haley, whom he shared an office with when he was on sabbatical leave as a Disney Imagineer, will join the Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center in August as associate executive producer. That same month, the School of Computer Science will move into its new building, the Gates Center for Computer Science. The Randy Pausch Memorial Footbridge will connect the new digs with the campus' Purnell Center for the Arts. "Like Randy, the bridge will help bring computer scientists together with artists," said Spice.