Philippe Dreyfus is a French

informatics Informatics is the study of computational systems. According to the Association for Computing Machinery, ACM Europe Council and Informatics Europe, informatics is synonymous with computer science and computing as a profession, in which the centra ...

pioneer. After gaining his master's degree in

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

in 1950 from the

École supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielles de la ville de Paris ESPCI Paris (officially the École supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielles de la ville de Paris, , ''The City of Paris Industrial Physics and Chemistry Higher Educational Institution'') is a grande école founded in 1882 by the city of ...

, ESPCI ParisTech Alumni 1950
/ref> he became a professor at the Informatics faculty at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

using

Mark I Mark I or Mark 1 often refers to the first version of a weapon or military vehicle, and is sometimes used in a similar fashion in civilian product development. In some instances, the Arabic numeral "1" is substituted for the Roman numeral "I". " ...

, the first automated computer ever built. In 1958 he was nominated director of the Bull Calculus Centre. In 1962 he coined the new term '' informatique'' to refer to computer sciences in French. In 1965 he became director of

CAP Europe A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. The origin of the word "cap" comes from the Old French word "chapeau" which means "head co ...

, an Anglo-French company, as well as director of CAP France and CAP UK. After CAP France and CAP Europe fused with

Sogeti Sogeti is a Technology Division of Capgemini. Sogeti is specializing in local professional services, with offices in Issy-Les-Moulineaux, employing around 20,000 people in 13 countries. The current Head of Sogeti Global iChristophe Bonnard H ...

, and the consequent acquisition of american company Gemini Inc., he became in 1975 Vice-President of Sogeti. Philippe Dreyfus is a member of the

European Computing Services Association European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...

(ECSA) Council and was the founder of Syntec Informatique. In 1962 he invented and defined the concept of

programming language A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Programming languages are described in terms of their Syntax (programming languages), syntax (form) and semantics (computer science), semantics (meaning), usually def ...

and in 1990 he introduced the concept of '' informativity'' ().

References

Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Harvard University faculty {{France-academic-bio-stub