Pioneering sound engineer Ray Dolby has lost his battle with acute leukaemia and died at his home in San Francisco at the age of 80. The Oscar-winning scientist pioneered noise-reducing and surround-sound audio technologies, which are fundamental to the music and film industries, through his company 'Dolby' that he created in 1965.
"Ray Dolby founded the company based on a commitment to creating value through innovation and an impassioned belief that if you invested in people and gave them the tools for success, they would create great things," said Kevin Yeaman, president and CEO of Dolby. "Ray's ideals will continue to be a source of inspiration and motivation for us all."
After founding the company in his early 30s, Ray went on to spend decades developing technologies that have become the audio gold standard in recording and movie studios.
He held more than 50 US patents, including most recently for his Atmos system, which sends commands to individual speakers so that sounds - whether rain drops, footsteps or explosions - appear to come from specific spots in a movie theatre.
Last year, his firm sealed a deal to have its name on the venue of the annual Academy Awards, rebranding it as the Dolby Theatre after bankrupt camera company Kodak was forced to end its sponsorship of the Hollywood landmark.
Over the years Dolby and his company won 10 Oscars and 13 Emmy Awards for its groundbreaking achievements.
Via abc.net