William F. Schreiber
Encyclopedia
William F. Schreiber was an electrical engineer and professor emeritus of MIT. Schreiber had served on the advisory committee of Federal Communications Commission
. In March 1969, he founded the imaging systems supplier ECRM
(Electronic Character Recognition Machinery). The company was responsible for the design of computer-based color printing system and optical character recognition
machine.
. As a child, he developed an interest in photography. He later went on to study at Columbia University
’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, where he received a BS and MS in electrical engineering. In 1953, he earned a PhD in applied physics
at Harvard University
’s School of Engineering and Applied Science
, where he was selected as a Gordon McKay and Charles Coffin fellow. After schooling, Schreiber began working at Sylvania Electronics
in 1947 at Technicolor Corporation
in Hollywood, California
in 1953.
in 1990. As part of the MIT faculty, Schreiber helped to develop advancement in imaging processing systems such as in television and printing. He worked in graphic arts, including color printing, color correction, and laser scanning. His research in television included works on digital television and high-definition television. While at MIT, Schreiber continued his consulting practice, serving as an expert in patent litigations.
and SPIE. He is a fellow of IEEE
and Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
. He received TAGA’s Honors Award, the David Sarnoff Gold Medal, the Gold Medal
of the International Society for Optical Engineering. He had also been a four-time recipient of the SMPTE Journal Award. Schreiber was a member of the National Academy of Engineering
.
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
. In March 1969, he founded the imaging systems supplier ECRM
Optical character recognition
Optical character recognition, usually abbreviated to OCR, is the mechanical or electronic translation of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded text. It is widely used to convert books and documents into electronic files, to computerize a record-keeping...
(Electronic Character Recognition Machinery). The company was responsible for the design of computer-based color printing system and optical character recognition
Optical character recognition
Optical character recognition, usually abbreviated to OCR, is the mechanical or electronic translation of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded text. It is widely used to convert books and documents into electronic files, to computerize a record-keeping...
machine.
Background
William F. Schreiber attended high school in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. As a child, he developed an interest in photography. He later went on to study at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, where he received a BS and MS in electrical engineering. In 1953, he earned a PhD in applied physics
Applied physics
Applied physics is a general term for physics which is intended for a particular technological or practical use.It is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between "pure" physics and engineering....
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
’s School of Engineering and Applied Science
Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Science , a school within Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences , serves as the connector and integrator of Harvard's teaching and research efforts in engineering, applied sciences, and technology.Engineering and applied sciences at Harvard...
, where he was selected as a Gordon McKay and Charles Coffin fellow. After schooling, Schreiber began working at Sylvania Electronics
Sylvania Electric Products
Sylvania Electric Products was a U.S. manufacturer of diverse electrical equipment, including at various times radio transceivers, vacuum tubes, semiconductors, and mainframe computers...
in 1947 at Technicolor Corporation
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
in Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1953.
Career
From 1959 to 1990, Schreiber was a faculty member at MIT in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He was also Director of the Advanced Television Research Program, a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Technology from 1964 to 1966, and a visiting scholar at the Swiss Federal Institute of TechnologySwiss Federal Institute of Technology
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology may refer to one of two institutes of higher education in Switzerland:* ETH Zurich in Zurich* École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Lausanne...
in 1990. As part of the MIT faculty, Schreiber helped to develop advancement in imaging processing systems such as in television and printing. He worked in graphic arts, including color printing, color correction, and laser scanning. His research in television included works on digital television and high-definition television. While at MIT, Schreiber continued his consulting practice, serving as an expert in patent litigations.
Recognition
William Schreiber received numerous distinctions for his contribution to electrical engineering and information technology. He is a member of the Technical Association for the Graphic ArtsTechnical Association of the Graphic Arts
The Technical Association of the Graphic Arts is an organization founded in 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. Founded as the Technical Association of the Lithographic Industry , the organization was re-branded as TAGA in 1951 and has continued with that name ever since...
and SPIE. He is a fellow of IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
and Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE , founded in 1916 as the Society of Motion Picture Engineers or SMPE, is an international professional association, based in...
. He received TAGA’s Honors Award, the David Sarnoff Gold Medal, the Gold Medal
SPIE Gold Medal
SPIE Gold Medal, or Gold Medal Award of SPIE, is the highest honor of SPIE , and is considered as one of the highest award in the fields of photonic and optical engineering and related instrumental sciences. The Gold Medal started awarding annually since 1977, and the award includes a medal and...
of the International Society for Optical Engineering. He had also been a four-time recipient of the SMPTE Journal Award. Schreiber was a member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
.