The title of "father of video call" is often attributed to AT&T Bell Labs, specifically to the team that developed the Picturephone in the 1960s.
While the Picturephone was a pioneering technology, it wasn't widely adopted due to its high cost and limited functionality. However, it laid the groundwork for future video call technology.
Here are some key points to consider:
-
Early Pioneers: Other researchers and companies were also exploring video communication before the Picturephone, such as AT&T's "Visiophone" in 1930 and the "Televisor" in 1950s.
-
The Internet's Role: The widespread adoption of video calls came about due to the rise of the internet and the development of technologies like IP (Internet Protocol) and the World Wide Web.
-
Modern Video Call Technology: Today, video calls are a common feature in most smartphones and computers thanks to technologies like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and H.264 video compression.
Therefore, while the Picturephone was a significant milestone, it's more accurate to say that video calling is a product of the collective efforts of numerous individuals and companies across different eras.