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Dr. An Wang (王安, pinyin: Wáng Ān) (February 7, 1920 – March 24, 1990) was a Chinese American computer engineer and inventor.
Born in Shanghai, China, Wang emigrated with his family to the United States in the late 1940s. Wang worked with Dr. Howard Aiken at Harvard University in the 1950s. Wang invented several important computer technologies, including the pulse transfer controlling device, an important early contribution to magnetic core memory.
Wang's company Wang, Inc. manufactured early personal word processors in the 1970's. The most popular was commonly called a Wang. It consisted of a modified typewriter. A small computer built into the typewriter could store and display text files. These files could be editted and printed (as if the typewriter were typing on it's own). At the time personal computers were unheard of and having a simple word processor was very useful, however these Wangs were fabulously expensive. Celebrity author Stephen King purchased a Wang.
Wang founded a company called Wang Laboratories, which at one time employed over 30,000 people and was headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts. Wang died of cancer in 1990, leaving behind an impressive technical and philanthropical legacy.
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