Physicist and business executive, born in Shanghai, E China. He studied at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, then emigrated to the USA (1945), where he studied applied physics at Harvard. A computer specialist, he invented the magnetic core memory, and founded Wang Laboratories in Boston, MA (1951), now one of the world's largest automation systems firms. He introduced a desktop computer named LOCI in 1956, the forerunner of Wang electronic desk calculators. A leading philanthropist in Boston, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1988.
the family name is Wang (王)Dr. An Wang (Chinese: 王安; February 7, 1920 – March 24, 1990) was a Chinese American computer engineer and inventor, and co-founder of computer company Wang Laboratories.
Born in Shanghai, China, Wang graduated from Chiao Tung University with a degree in electrical engineering in 1940. Wang co-invented the pulse transfer controlling device with Way-Dong Woo, a schoolmate from China who fell ill before their patent was issued. Harvard reduced its commitment to computer research in 1951, prompting Wang's departure.
Wang founded Wang Laboratories in June 1951 as a sole proprietorship. The first years were lean and Wang raised $50,000 working capital by selling one third of the company to textile machinery manufacturer Warner Swasey. In 1955 when the core memory patent was issued, Wang sold it to IBM for $500,000 and incorporated Wang Laboratories with Dr Ge-Yao Chu, another school mate. Wang began making desktop electronic calculators with digital displays, including a centralised calculator with remote terminals for group use. They began manufacturing word processors in 1976 based on the Wang 2200, one of the first desktop computers with a large CRT display.
In addition to calculators and word processors, Wang's company diversified into minicomputers in the early 1970s. Wang Laboratories, which in 1989 employed over 30,000 people, was headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts and later Lowell, Massachusetts. When Wang looked to retire from actively running his company in 1986, he insisted upon handing over the corporate reins to his son Fred Wang. Hard times ensued for the company and the elder Wang was eventually forced to remove his son in 1989.
An Wang also founded the Wang Institute in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts which offered a graduate program in Software Engineering. However, enrollment remained low, and after several years, in 1987, Dr. Wang decided to discontinue funding the institution and transferred ownership of the campus to Boston University.
An Wang also made a substantial contribution for the restoration of a Boston landmark, which was then called the Metropolitan Theatre. The "Met" was renamed in 1983 as The Wang Theatre, and the Metropolitan Center became known as the Wang Center for the Performing Arts.
When An Wang died of cancer in 1990 he left behind an impressive technical and philanthropic legacy.
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