Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison

1847-1931

Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman who led the development and commercialization of several popular imaging systems.

The best known of Edison’s imaging systems are those which brought motion pictures to the masses.  While others demonstrated early versions of motion pictures, each of these had drawbacks which limited their commercial viability.  Edison’s engineers were the first to develop and mass produce practical and profitable motion picture capture and display systems.  His kinetograph and kinetoscope were initially demonstrated in 1893 at the Chicago World's Fair.  They were so well received that kinetoscope parlors quickly spread across the US and Europe.  Their popularity also motivated additional development by others, and Edison quickly acquired the rights to build new systems which demonstrated significant improvements, such as motion picture projectors which allowed viewing by large audiences.

In addition to his work with motion pictures, Edison is also credited with designing and producing the first commercially available fluoroscope, an imaging system that uses X-rays to take radiographs for medical applications.  The fundamental design of Edison's fluoroscope is still in use today.