Herbert W. Franke is a physicist, science fiction writer, artist and author of theoretical books and essays. In the nineteen-fifties, he started with generative art by using oscilloscope and camera to generate patterns. He published "Computergrafik – Computerkunst" in 1971, the earliest comprehensive text on the subject. Born in Vienna, Franke worked from 1973 - 1997 at the University of Munich, lecturing in computer graphics and computer art and pioneering electronic abstractions. His interests include the use of random-number generators, image-processing, numerically-controlled machine tools, iterative techniques, fractals and experiments with music.