, written as TeX in plain text, is a typesetting system created by Donald Knuth. Together with the
METAFONT language for font description and the Computer Modern typeface, it was designed with two main goals in mind: first, to allow anybody to produce high-quality books using a reasonable amount of effort, and, second, to provide a system that would give the exact same results on all computers, now and in the future. It is free and is popular in academia, especially in the mathematics, physics, computer science, and engineering communities. It has largely displaced Unix troff, the other favored formatter, in many Unix installations, which
use both for different purposes.
TeX is generally considered[Claudio Beccari. Typesetting mathematics for science and technology according to ISO31XI. TUGboat, vol. 18 (1), 1997.] to be the best way to typeset complex mathematical formulae but especially in the form of LaTeX and other template packages, is now also being used for many other typesetting tasks.
History
When the first volume of Knuth's
The Art of Computer Programming was published in
1969, it was typeset using
monotype, a technology from the
19th century which produced a "
good classic style" appreciated by Knuth. When the second edition of the second volume was published, in
1976, the whole book had to be typeset again because the Monotype technology had been largely replaced by photographic techniques, and the original fonts were not available anymore.
[Donald E. Knuth. Digital Typography. Commemorative lecture for the Kyoto Prize, Kyoto, 1996. Reprinted as chapter 1 of the book Digital Typography.] However, when Knuth received the
galley proofs of the new book on
30 March 1977, he found them awful.
[Digital Typography, p. 5. "I had spent 15 years writing those books, but if they were going to look awful I didn't want to write any more."] Around that time, Knuth saw for the first time the output of a high-quality digital typesetting system, and became interested in digital typography. The disappointing galley proofs gave him the final motivation to solve the problem at hand once and for all by designing his own typesetting system. On
13 May 1977, he wrote a memo to himself describing the basic features of TeX.
[Donald E. Knuth. TEXDR.AFT, chapter 24 of the book Digital Typography.]
More on
[ TeX ]
eWeek - RSS FeedsHow Wall Street Can Mitigate Financial Fraud Using Biometric Authentication Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:23:24 -0400
Risk control procedures are not enough to mitigate fraud on Wall Street. The current financial meltdown provides evidence that many banks and financial institutions have failed to change systems and people in order to mitigate fraud and to comply with regulations and standards. Biometric authentication is a reliable solution for preventing security breaches. Knowledge Center contributors Paul Foote and Reena Hora explain why the financial industry needs to supplement its internal controls compliance with biometric authentication. - Daily, trillions of dollars are transferred worldwide in funds and securities through financial systems. The magnitude of this exposes the financial institutions and their customers to a very high risk of deliberate and accidental fraud. Many government and industry regulations and standards such as...
eWeek Newsbreak, Oct. 6, 2008 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:29:25 -0400
Could it be true? Did Apple really drop their non-disclosure agreement for released iPhone software? Ashley explains what Apple's decision could mean to you and the applications you use. The Chinese government is monitoring the conversations of Skype users, scanning all communications for sensitive keywords including Taiwan Freedom, Communist Party and Voice of America. The data, including users personal information is then being stored in publicly accessible servers. Google's energy team is out to save the planet. They've put out a proposal outlining how the U.S. could cut back on energy consumption and develop green industries to create new jobs. Toshiba is looking to use its Super Charge Ion battery to help extend the life of your lap top. The innovative battery gets a 90-percent charge in just ten minutes. And finally, although not in production, Lamborghini showed off its four door concept car at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. - Video Content....
Google, Yahoo Delay Search Ad Partnership Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:21:13 -0400
The Google-Yahoo deal announced in June to share advertising was widely seen as an effort to help fend off Microsoft's efforts to acquire Yahoo, by bringing Yahoo an additional $800 million in annual revenues. - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Google Inc and Yahoo Inc have decided to delay implementing a controversial search advertising partnership, Yahoo said on Friday.
quot;The companies have agreed to a brief delay in implementing this agreement to continue our ongoing discussions with the [U.S.] Department of ...
IBM is Closer to Building Bluehouse to Compete With Cisco, Google, Microsoft Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:19:48 -0400
IBM opens a beta for Bluehouse, the company's SAAS social networking and collaboration platform. The offering will compete with cloud computing solutions from Google, Microsoft and Cisco at a time when messaging and collaboration platforms are moving into the Web. - Update: IBM continues to drive the unified communications and collaboration bus, speeding closer along the road to Bluehouse, the company's SAAS (software as a service) social networking and collaboration software for businesses.
When IBM introduced Bluehouse last January at its annual Lotusphere ...
DRAM Storage Chip Makers Face Credit and Supply Challenges: iSuppli Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:18:40 -0400
DRAM storage chip suppliers Samsung, Elpida Memory and Powerchip Semiconductor face tougher challenges in servicing debts and financing capital expenditure as banks become more cash-strapped under the Wall Street financial crisis and global credit crunch, according to iSuppli. iSuppli cut its near-term market rating on dynamic random access memory (DRAM) storage chips used mainly in personal computers to negative from neutral. DRAM storage chip maker Samsung Electronics is the only chip maker not suffering losses. - SEOUL (Reuters) - DRAM suppliers face tougher challenges in
servicing debts and financing capital expenditure as banks become more
cash-strapped under the global credit crunch, research firm iSuppli
said.
quot;Even with the expected intervention by the U.S. government, this
crisis means the co...
eBay to Lay Off 10 Percent of Employees, Acquire Bill Me Later Payments and Craigslist Competitor Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:09:13 -0400
The eBay online auction site will pay $1.3 billion to buy the Bill Me Later online payments service to add to its PayPal division and Den Bla Avis and BilBasen, a Craigslist-like online classified service. eBay will also lay off 10 percent of its work force and sees third-quarter revenue hitting the low end of its forecast. eBay said the job cuts would affect about 1,000 employees and several hundred temporary workers. The reduction is expected to incur restructuring charges of about $70 million to $80 million, mostly in the fourth quarter. - NEW YORK (Reuters) - EBay Inc plans to cut its work force 10 percent
and sees third-quarter revenue hitting the low end of its forecast,
though profit will exceed expectations, the online auction Web site
said on Monday.
EBay also said it would spend more than $1.3 billion to buy
companies that...
The Seattle Times: Business & TechnologyCountrywide suit settled; homeowners to get aid Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:19:36 -0700
More than 10,000 Washington state homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure will get help with their mortgages as part of a record $8.4 billion settlement between Countrywide Financial and officials in 11 states.
Ballmer went to Europe bearing good tidings Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:29:03 -0700
The last time the economy plunged into darkness, Microsoft broke free from the shackles of its U.S. antitrust case.
That Web 2.0? We are so over that Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:32:50 -0700
As much as economic bubbles keep bursting all about us these days, it seems only a matter of time before the same happens to the ultrahip Web 2.0 phenomenon.
NYT > TechnologyThe Future of Reading: Using Video Games as Bait to Hook Readers Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:03:09 -0000
Publishers, authors and even libraries are embracing video games to promote books to young readers.
Dawn of Low-Price Mapping Could Broaden DNA Uses Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:10:47 -0000
A start-up company called Complete Genomics says it will start charging $5,000 next year to determine a person’s complete genetic blueprint.
EBay Cuts 10% of Work Force Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:33:00 -0000
The move to cut about 1,000 jobs is an attempt by eBay to improve the performance of its core marketplace division, which has seen declining growth in the last few years.
CNN.com - TechnologyAn eco-friendly way to cool big trucks Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:35:43 -0400
More than 7 percent of the U.S.'s daily oil consumption is attributed to heavy-duty truck idling, according to estimates. Many truckers, while resting at truck stops, idle their engines in hot weather to cool their cabs. But now a company has developed an eco-friendly cooling device that works with the engine off.
How to measure your 'water footprint' Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:47:50 -0400
Most people by now will be familiar with the term 'carbon footprint' and may even have calculated it themselves, but how many are familiar with their 'water footprint'?
Report: 1 in 4 mammals at risk of extinction Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:37:19 -0400
Read full story for latest details.
NPR Topics: TechnologyNew Solar Cell Easy As Pizza To Make Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:16:00 -0400
The iJET is a new type of solar cell that's cheap and easy to make, requiring not much more than a pizza oven, some nail polish remover, and a common inkjet printer. Australian scientist Nicole Kuepper describes her invention.
SpaceX Celebrates First Successful Rocket Launch Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:53:00 -0400
SpaceX's flagship Falcon1 rocket has successfully launched from an island in the central Pacific, becoming the first privately-developed rocket to orbit the planet. NASA has already contracted SpaceX to begin private space flight missions to the International Space Station beginning in 2010.
Northeast States Trade Carbon Emission Credits Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:46:00 -0400
A consortium of Northeast states has completed the first cap-and-trade greenhouse gas auction in the U.S. Under cap-and-trade, limits are set on emissions. Companies that do not use up their quota of emissions are able to sell their excess emission capacity to other companies.
BBC News | Technology | UK EditionEuropeans sought over hack attack Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:10:44 -0000
The FBI is seeking a British man and his German accomplice over attacks on web shops selling satellite TV equipment.
China 'spying on Skype messages' Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:38:32 -0000
Chinese officials are censoring messages sent through the internet service Skype, Canadian researchers say.
Music stars unite to seek control Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:30:43 -0000
Acts including Robbie Williams and Radiohead join a coalition to try to gain ownership and control of their music from record labels.
Reuters Video: TechnologyShazam enters new era Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:22:20 -0400
Oct 6 - The mobile music discovery service has seen a surge of new users after broadening its offering to work seamlessly with social networks.
Solar clothes Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:30:01 -0400
Oct. 3 - Argentine designer looks to the future by creating solar-powered clothing.
Ring ring, bling bling Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:21:52 -0400
Oct. 3 - Ring ring, bling bling; NIntendo's latest player, 3D reality, and a hybrid motorbike.
AP Top Technology News At 10:54 a.m. EDTEBay to cut 1,000 jobs, will buy Bill Me Later Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:04:15 -0000
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- EBay Inc., which still reaps big profits but has been struggling to attract new users, said Monday it will cut about 1,000 jobs in an attempt to streamline its business. The cuts amount to 10 percent of eBay's work force....
Ask.com hopes to make search faster, more relevantBy RACHEL METZ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:15:38 -0000
NEW YORK (AP) -- Assuming your company's name isn't a verb synonymous with looking things up online, how do you get Web surfers to not just try your search engine, but also frequent it?...
Fraud plagues prepaid calling card marketBy JOELLE TESSLER Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:54:15 -0000
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rosalba Posada can tick off a list of problems she has encountered trying to use prepaid calling cards to stay in touch with family back in Colombia....
CNET News.comSuit against magazine-sharing site settled Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:04:00 -0700
The magazine-sharing site Mygazines.com is removing much of its copyrighted content after reaching a settlement in a suit filed by magazine publishers.
GigaOm's tech blogs pull in $4.5 million Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:02:00 -0700
Alloy Ventures leads Giga Omni Media's third round of funding, which was planned both as a means for growth and a safeguard against economic troubles.
Two Europeans indicted over U.S. cyberattacks Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:01:08 -0700
A 24-year-old from England and a 25-year-old from Germany face conspiracy and computer damage charges related to a large-scale DDoS attack resulting in major financial losses.
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