The Karl-Weierstraß-Prize awarded in 1976 recognized a thesis on theoretical computer science, marking an early academic achievement for Klaus Peter Jantke. Born in 1951 in Berlin, he evolved from a student of mathematics at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin into a researcher influencing fields ranging from artificial intelligence to the formal study of digital games and gamification.
Foundations in Mathematical Research
Jantke completed his studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin by 1975, earning a diploma in mathematics and theoretical computer science. His doctoral research, supervised by Helmut Thiele and finished in 1979, addressed the performance and complexity of universal methods for recognizing general-recursive functions. This work earned him the Humboldt-Prize. His habilitation thesis in 1984 investigated a general approach to problems within the framework of inductive inference.
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From 1985 to 1987, he served as deputy director of the data center at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. In 1987, he was appointed full professor of theoretical computer science and basic research into artificial intelligence at the Technische Hochschule Leipzig. Throughout his career, he held positions at various institutions, including the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Technische Universität Ilmenau, the University of Stirling, and Kuwait University.
Pioneering Computer Game Studies
In 2006, Jantke became the first professor of computer games in Germany. While working at Technische Universität Ilmenau between 2005 and 2007, he developed a taxonomy for digital games and created research-specific titles known as Jostle and Gorge. He later established the Children's Media Department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology in 2008, heading it until 2016.
Recent Professional Engagements
After leaving the Fraunhofer Institute, he transitioned to the private sector as Chief Scientific Officer at ADICOM in 2016. His involvement in academia continued through his membership in the Interdisciplinary Center of E-Humanities in History and Social Sciences at the University of Erfurt. Between 2019 and 2021, he acted as a consultant for the Sino-German Industrial Design Center, supporting economic cooperation.
Fast facts
- Born: 1951, Berlin, Germany
- Education: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Field: Theoretical computer science
- Appointment: First German professor of computer games, 2006
- Role: Chief Scientific Officer at ADICOM, 2016
- Languages: German
Questions readers ask
What subjects did he research early in his career?
He focused on theoretical computer science, specifically inductive inference and the complexity of universal methods for general-recursive functions.
Did he contribute to game studies?
Yes, he was Germany's first professor of computer games and created the Ilmenauer taxonomy for digital games.
Achievements
- Held posts at Technische Universität Ilmenau, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Technische Hochschule Leipzig
- Fields: mathematics, computer science and artificial intelligence
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