Wang Xuan, the inventor of a computerized laser photocomposition system for Chinese character typesetting, died of illness on February 13th 2006 at the age of 70.
Wang was famed for his expertise and research in computer science, specializing in the processing of characters, graphics and images. He patented the system for Chinese character typesetting in Europe in 1982. The achievement laid the foundations for technological reform that transformed China’s traditional letterpress printing technique into laser photocomposition.
Father of Chinese Character Laser-photo-typesetting System
From 1987 to 1993, China's press and printing industry underwent great technical reform, bidding farewell to traditional letterpress printing while greeting the era of photo typesetting by computer. This huge development is credited to Professor Wang Xuan, of Beijing University's Computer Research Institute.
It was Wang who invented the Chinese character laser-photo-typesetting system that has led Chinese character printing into the electrical and digital age. Hence, being recognized as having made the most significant contributions to the modernization of China's press and printing industry, he has been hailed as the "Bi Sheng of the Modern Times" and the "Father of the Chinese character laser-photo-typesetting system."
Wang Xuan's Life Journey
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| Professor Wang Xuan was conferred the The State Preeminent Scientific and Technical Award by president Jiang Zemin. |
Wang Xuan was born in East China's Shanghai Municipality in February 1937. At the age of 17, he was admitted to Beijing University and began his study as a major in Mathematics and Mechanics in 1954. Upon graduation in 1958, he stayed at his alma mater and became a teacher of the Mathematics and Mechanic Department. He has devoted himself to computer sciences education and research ever since.
From 1975, he was in charge of the research and development of the Chinese language laser typesetting system and electronic publishing system. Since 1984, he has been a professor at Beijing University, and the director of the Institute of Computer Science and Technology at Beijing University. He was elected as an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1992 and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1994. In 1995, he became director of the Founder R&D Center and chairman of the board of Beijing Founder Group Corporation, a position he held until 1998.
During his lifetime, Wang has received many state-level and international awards, including a gold medal at the 14th International Inventions Show in Geneva in 1986, the 1995 prize for advancement in science and technology at the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation, the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award in 2002.
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