Memory chips were getting larger and cheaper, and PC operating systems were beginning to enable one to address this additional memory. The first CCD (charge coupled device) had been invented in the early 80's and now CCD sensor technology was also becoming inexpensive enough for consumer applications.

In 1984 Sony demonstrated the first electronic still video camera using a CCD array called the Mavica that wrote images, using analog recording technology, to a 2.5" still video floppy disc. You could store 25 full frame images or 50 field (half resolution) images on one disc. The image quality of these units however, was pretty poor, suffering from the limitations of NTSC composite video and the subsequent analog storage (same technology as VCR recording). Kodak and many other companies scrambled to put together development teams to exploit this new technology even though none of them really knew who was going to buy this stuff. Since Kodak's Consumer Electronics Division was having no luck selling 8mm video cameras they decided that there must be no market, so they "exited the business". (Sony managed to figure out how sell them.) Possibly there was hope to make some money with this new still video floppy standard, so was formed the Electronic Photography Division.

As one of the original members of the short lived Kodak Electronic Photography Division during this period, I experienced what was a very dynamic era in Kodak's history and in the history of photography as well.

What follows is the tale of my journey of exploration during this exciting period of time. Please keep in mind that this is the story of my experiences, from my perspective, and as such is not intended to be a definitive history of digital imaging. I am sure however, that my story will shed some light on how digital imaging has evolved at Kodak and throughout the industry in general.

The computer, besides being the most wonderful creative tool I've ever used, is a great historical tool as well. Every time you create a new work and save it to disk, it is automatically time stamped. If you're careful and backup all your work, you create a path in time that can be followed backwards revealing the thought processes that occured. That's sort of how this project came about. While looking back at the files I've saved over the years, they were snapshots of my journey. Combining these snapshots with my recollections and information from articles in the various Mac magazines of the time (I still have most of them in boxes in the basement), I hope to assemble an illustrated document of those experiences.

This project is one I've been contemplating for a number of years but have been very reluctant to tackle. Not only because of its scope, but also for lack of a medium that could effectively present all the media types I've accumulated over the years. Everything from MacPaint files to Studio Pro animations, also Hypercard stacks, product illustrations, software prototypes, hi-res scans, 3D models, VR movies and more.

A book wouldn't have done it justice, much too linear. I had considered an interactive multimedia presentation possibly using Director, but there were issues with licensing (I couldn't afford it) and with the distribution across various platforms. Perhaps a gallery installation would be the way to go, it's a possibility I've yet to rule out. Any galleries interested?

However, I discovered the Worldwide Web and HTML and was surprised at how dynamic it could be. Also, it doesn't cost alot to get into except maybe in the time spent. This was definitely the medium I'd been waiting for. Let me know if you agree.