Influential because of its technological potential, the PDF format, as it exists today, evolved from an already existing page description language known as PostScript. When the description language was refined in structure and concept, new ideas for the technology were expounded in a paper called “Camelot”, written in 1991 by Computer Scientist and future Adobe Co-Chairman, Dr. John E. Warnock. From the ideas documented within the paper emerged the first concepts of the PDF format.

A Brief History Of Warnock’s Career

Warnock, the creator and innovator of the format, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1940. Educated at the University of Utah, he earned multiple degrees: a B.S. in mathematics and philosophy (1961), an M.S. in mathematics (1964), and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering (1969). Warnock also had the distinction of earning an honourary degree in science (1997). His strong educational background was the beginning of his involvement in the computer industry, and particularly, his career in desktop publishing technology.

Throughout his career, he has worked for notable computer companies. Warnock’s past occupations include positions held at Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation, Computer Sciences Corporation, IBM, and the University of Utah. Most notably, he worked as principal scientist at Xerox PARC in 1978 where he conducted research on printing and device independent graphics. It was Warnock’s research at Xerox PARC which inspired the PostScript technology behind the PDF.

In 1982, along with Charles Geschke, Warnock co-founded Adobe Systems, Inc., a company that would further develop the revolutionizing print technology, and a company that would become instrumental in changing the landscape of electronic publishing. As the company produced top communication and design software overtime, Warnock has held different key positions. For the first two years he served as company president. Afterwards, Warnock worked as CEO for 16 years after which he later retired from in 2000 to work on as the company’s CTO in 2001. Retiring from that position in the same year, he has since then held, and currently holds, the position of co-chairmen of the board of Adobe with Geschke.

Warnock Outside Adobe Systems, Inc.

However, the inspiration and innovation that characterizes Warnock’s career does not stop at Adobe technology. Warnock holds six patents, and is the developer of the Warnock algorithm used in computer graphics. He has directorial positions with various companies, such as the Tech Museum of Innovation, Octavo Corporation and Salon Media Group Inc. As well, he is a Member of the Board of Trustees of American Film Institute and Folger Shakespeare Library. In addition, Warnock is a noted entrepreneurial philanthropist.

With such an active career in expanding publishing technology and digital communication, he has been highly distinguished and recognized by top business and computer industry publications. His entrepreneurial successes have been noted with his induction into the Computer Reseller News Hall of Fame in 1998, as a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 1999, and into the Utah Information technology Association the following year. He has been awarded with the Award for Technical Excellence (National Graphics Association), Entrepreneur of the Year (Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch, and Inc. Magazine), and with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Technical Excellence (PC Magazine).

Making the practical needs of users a priority for Adobe, Warnock’s vision for graphic publishing has been key to the evolution of the PDF format. Now, more than fifteen years after “Camelot”, the PDF format has pervaded information exchange systems in graphics, Web, and printing.A visionary with a scope for re-invention, Warnock has guided and shaped not only Adobe technology, but the industry of information technology as a whole.