Summary:
- Adobe co-founder Dr. John Warnick passed away at 82. He had a significant impact on technology and education.
- Warnock's contributions include pioneering electronic registration processes and the development of PDF.
- His influence extended to computer graphics algorithms and creative communication technologies.
- Warnock remained connected to his Utah origins and contributed to the academic community.
- He was honored with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
Adobe co-founder Dr. John Warnick died this weekend at the age of 82. He was a Utah native and completed all of his higher education right there at the U. New specialist Shelby Lofton joins us live from campus tonight to share more on his accomplishments at Adobe and his legacy at that university.
Adobe has a really large presence here in Utah and a lot of people will think of that big campus out in Lehigh, but co-founder John Warnick, his heart was right here at the University of Utah where he got his start in the world of technology. John was a genius.
Technology pioneer John Warnock started his career as a student at the University of Utah. Dean of engineering Richard Brown said early on, Warnock set himself apart. John wrote the original electronic registration process. The school trusted the then PhD student to create a program the entire student body would use. They told me of his sleeping in the Merrill Engineering building for a few hours and then going back to writing this program that would be used to register all the students for their classes. Years later, he would develop technology that's used on a daily basis. Basically, John's development of PDF is what made desktop publishing practical.
It would explode into a number of Adobe programs. It has had a huge impact on the world. His inventions help people communicate creatively. He developed the Warnock hidden line algorithm, which was one of the early fundamental algorithms that made computer graphics possible. Brown said Warnock never forgot where he came from. He visited in March when the university was given an award for pioneering computer graphics. While his role in the big tech world grew, Warnock stayed connected to his Utah roots.
He has given back in ways that have had a huge impact on thousands of students who came after him. And Warnock was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Obama, which is one of the biggest honors you can get in his field. And classes here at the U-Start tomorrow, and Brown said people will be definitely talking about Warnock and his legacy as this next generation of tech geniuses get started here on campus for the fall semester. I'll send it back to you guys. Such an impressive list of accomplishments. He will be missed. Yeah, what a legacy.
Thanks a lot. Shelby Lofton live for us tonight.