The camera phone

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Who

Philippe Kahn, a French-born American engineer of Jewish descent

When

1997

Where

California, United States

On 11 June 1997, waiting in a maternity ward, Philippe Kahn wired a digital camera to his mobile phone and to a laptop so that the first picture of his newborn daughter reached two thousand people the instant it was taken. That improvised rig is the origin of the camera phone and of instant photo sharing.

Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.