748 Project

In August 1974, with the approval of the late Premier Zhou Enlai, the Chinese Character Information Processing System, known as the "748 Project," was launched. It consisted of three sub-projects: Chinese Character Communication, Chinese Character Information Retrieval and Precise Filmsetting of Chinese Characters, and pioneered efforts to adapting Chinese characters to the era of computers and lasers.

In 1975, Wang Xuan of Peking University came up with a plan for the R&D of precise phototypesetting of Chinese characters–the fourth-generation laser phototypesetting system. In 1986, the new Chinese character laser phototypesetting system was made one of China's top ten technological achievements and won a gold medal at the Geneva International Inventions Exhibition. In 1987, it was awarded top National Scientific and Technological Progress Award, with Wang Xuan winning the first Bi Sheng Award. In May 1987, the Economic Daily became the first Chinese newspaper to use computer to do page makeup and produce films by laser phototypesetting technology. By 1993, nearly 99 percent of newspaper offices and 95 percent book and periodical printers had been equipped with the China-made computerized laser phototypesetting system.