SEE AMAZON.COM DEALS FOR TODAY
Death – Obituary News : John Warnock, the inventor of PostScript and co-founder of Adobe Systems, has passed away. He revolutionized computer printing, file sending with PDFs, and introduced vector graphics with Illustrator. Despite his significant contributions to the field, his death has received less attention compared to other computer science pioneers.
Always weird which CS pioneers get public acknowledgement and which don’t. Compare Larry Tesler and Doug Engelbart to this week’s passing of John Warnock.
He invented modern computer printing with PostScript, how we send finalized files with PDFs, vector graphics with Illustrator— Omer Lev (@omerlev) September 1, 2023
John Warnock, the computer scientist and co-founder of Adobe Systems, passed away this week at the age of 81. His contributions to the world of computing have had a profound impact, revolutionizing the way we print, share, and create digital documents.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1940, Warnock showed an early aptitude for mathematics and science. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah. After completing his education, Warnock joined Xerox PARC, where he worked on developing the Xerox Alto, one of the first personal computers.
In 1982, Warnock, along with his colleague Charles Geschke, founded Adobe Systems. It was here that he made his most significant contributions to the field of computer science. Warnock is credited with inventing PostScript, a page description language that revolutionized computer printing. PostScript allowed computers to communicate with printers, enabling the printing of complex graphics and fonts. This innovation laid the foundation for modern computer printing as we know it today.
Warnock’s visionary work didn’t stop there. He also played a crucial role in the development of PDF (Portable Document Format), a file format that revolutionized the way we share and view documents electronically. PDFs became the standard for transmitting finalized files, ensuring that documents would appear the same across different devices and operating systems.
Additionally, Warnock was instrumental in the creation of Adobe Illustrator, a vector graphics editor that has become an industry standard for designers and artists worldwide. Illustrator allowed for the creation of scalable and precise graphics, making it a valuable tool for graphic designers, illustrators, and architects.
John Warnock’s contributions to the field of computer science have left an indelible mark on our modern world. His inventions and innovations continue to shape the way we communicate, share information, and create digital content. He will be remembered as a pioneer and visionary, whose work has had a lasting legacy in the world of technology..
