Bede Liu, Pioneer of Digital Signal Processing, Passes Away

Bede Liu, an American scientist and engineer who made a key contribution to the development of digital signal processing, has passed away at the age of 92. His work laid the foundation for modern data transmission, multimedia, and mobile communication technologies used by billions worldwide.

Born in Shanghai in 1934, Liu received his education in Taiwan and the U.S., where he began teaching at Princeton University in 1962. Over more than 50 years, he led research in digital signal processing, driving the transition from analog to digital methods for processing sound, images, and video.

Among his key achievements was the development of low-power digital processors that now power cellular networks, video streaming, and internet communications. In 1976, Liu and his student Abe Peled published the textbook Digital Signal Processing: Theory, Design, and Implementation, which became a global standard for engineers.

Beyond his research, Liu was renowned as a mentor: 53 of his graduate students earned PhDs under his guidance, many becoming industry leaders, including Robert Kahn, the architect of the modern internet.

In his later years, Liu focused on digital content protection, developing digital watermarking methods to combat piracy. His work in this field helped embed unique identifiers in copies of films and other media content, preventing unauthorized distribution.