EOTO Presentations

My favorite technology learned from the EOTO presentations was the camera, presented by Sara Belles. I absolutely love taking pictures and videos for memories and having the ability to share them with anyone else. Capturing the moment is sometimes as important as living in the moment for me, so her presentation on the whole camera creation really resonated with me (along with Abby Gibbs on the camera phone). 

The camera was created by Nicephore Niepce, a French inventor who invented photography and pioneered in that field. In 1816, the first photograph was taken. Unfortunately, it was done with silver chloride-lined paper, so the picture didn’t last. The first long-lasting photograph came out years later in 1862. This development was possible with the invention of the camera obscura - dating way back to 1021 - and the first portable camera in 1685. Kodak sold the first commercial camera in 1888, leading them to be a large company today. They specialize in production related to their historical basis in analog photography. Later on, in 1939, World War II helped shape a new style of photography, giving it a more artistic and moving essence. 1948 marks the introduction of instant image development thanks to polaroid, which we’ve all likely experimented with. About 50 years later, in 1991, the first professional digital camera came out, with the first camera phone following in its steps in the year 2000. 

The camera also demonstrates vast societal impact over its course of growth and development. It’s helped further communication through Facetime, Skype, Google Duo, and Houseparty. Social media, smartphones, and streaming devices are possible and constantly innovated. Users on social media like Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Facebook heavily utilize a camera’s possibilities to create content and connect with others. 

Cameras additionally shifted our perspective of the universe, not just our digital worlds. Photos of black holes, the use of space rovers, and views of the earth, in general, help us discover new things out there every day. Medical advances also give credit to the camera, allowing advancements in tracking diseases and 3D imaging. However, the most significant impact of the camera regards privacy. Camera phones, traffic cameras, store and home security cameras all can track our everyday moves. Having complete privacy these days is very challenging, but having cameras always catch what’s going on allows for proof, clarity, and overall enhancement of our safety.