The camera: an innovation history

‘Innovation’ can sometimes seem like quite a straightforward process: someone has a brilliant idea, develops it, and takes it to market. But in reality, it is rarely that straightforward, or that boring.

Most innovation is a product of its age, its people, and its technologies. Innovations can develop slowly over time, or extremely rapidly, but are usually the outcome of multiple decisions, lots of small discoveries, and a good deal of luck.

Here, Dave and Ian explain this idea in more detail by telling you the somewhat surprising story of the innovation of the camera. They touch on a number of ways the camera was either influenced by other innovations and inventions, or sparked new innovations along the way.

As you watch, you might think of other ways the innovation of the camera was influenced by events or inventions at the time, or ways that the technological advances of the camera created new opportunities in other areas. Note these down, add them to the comments and see what connections other people have noticed.

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