Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today congratulates its two founders, John E. Warnock, Ph.D., and Charles M. Geschke, Ph.D., on receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. President Barack Obama will present the award today at 1:30 p.m. EDT at a ceremony in the White House East Room. The award - the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on scientists, engineers and inventors - recognizes outstanding technology contributions for the improvement of the economic, environmental or social well-being of the United States.
Warnock and Geschke's initial innovation, a printer language called Adobe® PostScript®, sparked a quiet revolution that democratized publishing and today is seen as an important first step in the mass dissemination of ideas and information.
Building on the success of PostScript, Warnock and Geschke launched the Portable Document Format (PDF) in 1993. PDF is now used by government organizations, corporations and people around the world for universal, reliable document exchange. The company has distributed over half of a billion copies of the virtually ubiquitous Adobe Reader® software for interacting with PDF files.
With a reputation for excellence and a portfolio of many of the most respected and recognizable software brands, from Adobe Photoshop® and Creative Suite® to Flash®, Acrobat® and Dreamweaver®, Adobe has had a sweeping impact on the digital landscape in virtually every medium.
"All of us at Adobe are proud of John and Chuck's remarkable achievements," said Shantanu Narayen, president and CEO of Adobe. "Our success and continuous innovation are a testament to their original vision and the company values they instilled from the very beginning."
About the National Medal of Technology and Innovation
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation has its roots in a 1980 statute and is administered for the White House by the U.S. Department of Commerce's U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Nominees are selected by a distinguished independent committee representing both the private and public sectors.
Warnock and Geschke's initial innovation, a printer language called Adobe® PostScript®, sparked a quiet revolution that democratized publishing and today is seen as an important first step in the mass dissemination of ideas and information.
Building on the success of PostScript, Warnock and Geschke launched the Portable Document Format (PDF) in 1993. PDF is now used by government organizations, corporations and people around the world for universal, reliable document exchange. The company has distributed over half of a billion copies of the virtually ubiquitous Adobe Reader® software for interacting with PDF files.
With a reputation for excellence and a portfolio of many of the most respected and recognizable software brands, from Adobe Photoshop® and Creative Suite® to Flash®, Acrobat® and Dreamweaver®, Adobe has had a sweeping impact on the digital landscape in virtually every medium.
"All of us at Adobe are proud of John and Chuck's remarkable achievements," said Shantanu Narayen, president and CEO of Adobe. "Our success and continuous innovation are a testament to their original vision and the company values they instilled from the very beginning."
About the National Medal of Technology and Innovation
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation has its roots in a 1980 statute and is administered for the White House by the U.S. Department of Commerce's U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Nominees are selected by a distinguished independent committee representing both the private and public sectors.
