We remember tech star Stephen Wilhite, Creator of the GIF, in his passing on Monday, March 14, 2022. In one of APC’s latest Tech Tip Tuesday blog pieces, we talked about Wilhite and how when he created this digital piece of history, his intention was for the word to have the pronunciation with a soft “G,” as if it read “JIF.” Wilhite was recognized with a Webby Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 for the invention of the GIF. In addition, in 2012, the Oxford American Dictionaries recognized GIF as word of the year.
Remembering Tech Star Stephen Wilhite, Creator of the GIF
During his time at CompuServe in the 1980s, when he invented the GIF, he and his engineer team created an image file type that involved a compressed image and made it easy for rendering. This process began an ease-of-sharing like never seen before in the booming digital world. By the mid-1990s, anyone who could access a computer was able to view and share graphic interchange formats or GIFs.
According to his wife, Wilhite loved building model trains and spent his time traveling and camping in retirement. Thank you for joining us in remembering tech star Stephen Wilhite, creator of the GIF.
Did you know that making a GIF is relatively easy if you have a smartphone? Additionally, don’t miss out on APC’s thought-leadership pieces. These articles cover a range of topics on technology and our Tech Tip Tuesday pieces, business insights, and recent technology news.
Kristen Burgess is the Marketing Specialist at Alliance of Professionals & Consultants, Inc. She has five years’ experience in curating content for digital platforms, social media contributions, and supporting marketing campaigns and strategies. Before joining the APC wolfpack, she worked in digital marketing for software as a service, giving her keen insight into the types of professionals APC hires today. In addition, she likes to stay up-to-date on the most relevant trends within the technology industry through thought-provoking podcasts and newsletters while paying attention to industry leaders’ trends. In her spare time, she serves on the Management Team and helps craft communications for the Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties.
