A 1962 image created by Efi Arazi provided the basis for the term computer art when it appeared on the January 1963 cover of Computers and Automation. This early intersection of technology and imagery marked the trajectory of a career that placed an Israeli engineer at the center of global hardware and software innovation.
Early Education and Career Beginnings
Born in Jerusalem in 1937, Arazi trained as an electronics cadet at the Air Force Technological Academy within the Israel Defense Forces. He eventually gained admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, despite lacking a formal matriculation certificate, by applying through an extraordinary cases process. He earned his engineering degree in the 1960s and initiated his professional life in the United States.
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Arazi returned to Israel in June 1967. The following year, he established Scitex Corporation, a firm dedicated to developing hardware and software for printing, graphics design, and publishing. The company became the first Israeli high-tech enterprise, eventually reaching a workforce of 4,000 employees. He served as president and chief executive officer until June 1, 1988. He held the role of chairman of the board from May 1, 1985, until January 18, 1989, concluding his tenure when Robert Maxwell's Mirror Group purchased a 27 percent stake in the business.
Subsequent Ventures and Legacy
In 1988, he founded Electronics for Imaging. Later, he took on the role of chief executive officer at iMedia, a company focused on digital video management tools for television operators. At the time of his passing, he served as chairman of Seerun Ltd. The Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel's first private university, honored his contributions by naming its computer science faculty the Efi Arazi School of Computer Science in 2003. He received the Edwin H. Land Medal in 1997 for his industry influence.
Fast facts
- Born: 1937, Jerusalem
- Died: 2013
- Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Key Venture: Scitex Corporation
- Award: Edwin H. Land Medal (1997)
- Burial: Beit Olam Ḥorshim cemetery
- Citizenship: Israel
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the Efi Arazi School of Computer Science?
It was established in 1996 as part of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya and named in his honor in 2003.
When did Scitex Corporation change its name?
The company was renamed Scailex Corporation in 2005.
Achievements
- Edwin H. Land Medal — 1997
- Educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology