Edwin H. Land
Edwin Herbert Land ( born May 7, 1909 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA, † 1 March 1991 in Cambridge, Massachusetts ) was an American physicist and industrialist and goes with his invention of the Polaroid separation picture film process as one of the most important pioneers photographic technology.
Already during his studies he invented in 1932 a polarizing filter made of plastic, the so-called Polaroid filter, which can be produced in almost any size. He made this invention, as he interrupted his studies in chemistry at Harvard University for a stay in New York City. He then returned to Harvard, but did not graduate, but founded with his physics teacher Wheelwright a laboratory to develop his invention. It was created in 1937, the Polaroid Company.
On 21 February 1947, he presented a completely new camera that after the snapshot provided a ready-made paper image a few seconds. It was the first instant camera ( it was Christmas 1948 at the market). He later worked on various problems of photo technology, including the development of high-performance aerial cameras, for example, for the spy plane Lockheed U -2.
Country also dealt with the theory of color vision ( Retinex theory, 1971).
During his time at Polaroid, he was known for his energy in the pursuit of problems. He was persistent for weeks working on the solution of a problem, without interrupting the work for " incidentals " such as meals or changing clothes.
In 1957 he became an honorary doctorate from Harvard University and many other universities ( such as Yale University, Columbia University, Carnegie Institute of Technology). 1957 to 1959 he was Scientific Advisary Committee ( PSAC ) of the U.S. president, and later (1960 to 1973), and consultants of the PSAC. 1961 to 1977 he was a member of the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board ( PFIAB ) of the U.S. president. 1967 to 1975 he was a Trustee of the Ford Foundation. In 1963 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1967 he received the Frederic Ives Medal and 1988 National Medal of Technology. In 1977, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Country held 535 patents.
Country died on 1 March 1991 in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age of 81 years. On the day of his death, his personal assistant destroyed his personal records and notes. He was interred in the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.
According to him, the Edwin H. Land Medal of the OSA is named.