Tuesday, August 30, 2011

August 31 - And Movies were Born

On this date in 1887, Thomas Edison received the patent for his Kinetoscope, the precursor to modern projection film.  Early versions were used by a single person who viewed the film through a window on the top of the device.  The Kinetoscope worked essentially the same way as modern film.  Sequential images are shown at high speed over light to create the illusion of movement.

As time went on, improvements to the design created the ability to add sound and earphones to the films using a phonograph.  Later, it was also able to project film, in a manner not much different than we use today.

The first copyright for an identifiable motion picture was given to Thomas Edison for "Fred Ott's Sneeze," which, predictably, depicts a Fred Ott's sneeze.

I don't know about you guys, but I always think it's interesting to look back and see what kind of 100 year old technology we still use today.  We make leaps and bounds in areas, but film doesn't change much, neither have radios.  Any other kind pieces of technology that haven't changed a whole lot over the years?  Things we still use?

12 comments:

  1. I bet toilets were invented just to place posts like this! :) just kidding, actually really interesting stuff.

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  2. Very nice info! Learned a few things!

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  3. If I had the technology at the time to make the first movie, it wouldn't be of a guy sneezing. ;) It'd be... sexy. :D

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  4. Very interesting to look back indeed. We've come a long way.

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  5. almost 200 years, and all we got is MTV, Twilight and Pixar, some good and bad things though

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  6. Awesome day in history right there. Where would be without movies?

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  7. Its amazing how far technology has come.

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  8. ahhh movies. best part of the weekends.

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  9. Thomas Edison, heard he was a jerk. good job on the movies though, tommy e

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  10. The ink and the pencils have like 100 years from now...

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  11. lol at what littlejohn said about thomas edison

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