With the invention of a computerized laser photocomposition system for Chinese character typesetting, Wang Xuan proved to the world that Chinese people could independently realize the historic change from letterpress printing to electronic publishing.

His invention is also described as the "second invention of the printing system for Chinese character after Bi Sheng's invention of movable clay type in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), which ushered in a revolution in the history of printing. He had been often dubbed the "Modern Bi Sheng".

Despite his achievements in computer sciences and his glorious titles as the academician with both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, Wang Xuan, who died of illness on Feb 13 in Beijing at the age of 69, is more remembered by his former peers and students as a person with an enterprising and hard-working spirit and one who is easy-going and amicable.