was a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera that used a
1.3-megapixel sensor. It could transfer images to a
charge-coupled device (CCD) that converted the
images directly into digital information.
The first mass-marketed color digital camera, the
Apple Quick Take 100, appeared in 1994. It had a
640 × 480 pixel CCD and a built-in flash. Later in
1994, the Olympus Deltis Video Camera (VC)-1100
became the first digital camera with built-in trans-
mission capabilities. Its transmitter allowed pictures
to be sent over phone lines or a cellular network to a
PC or another camera. The first digital camera that
had the ability to record both still and moving im-
ages, the Ricoh Digital Camera (RDC)-1, appeared
in 1995. It also provided sound recording. In 1996,
the Kodak DC-25 became the first digital camera
that used a compact flash. The following year,
Hitachi manufactured the first digital camera that
output moving pictures to a PC in the Moving Pic-
ture Expert Group (MPEG) format. The first digital
cameras that contained integral printers were un-
veiled in 1998. In 1999, Nikon released a 2.74-
megapixel SLR camera.
Impact Although digital camera photography may
not completely replace traditional methods of pho-
tography, digital cameras have revolutionized the
way that amateur photographers take pictures. In
1998, one million digital cameras
were sold in the United States. That
number doubled in 1999.
Digital cameras offer amateur
photographers more freedom with
their photos than regular cameras
offer. Photographers can achieve a
variety of effects and can monitor
photos as soon as they are taken, al-
lowing users to take photos until
they have exactly what they want.
Digital images can then be manipu-
lated on a PC to add or eliminate
photo features. Digital camera pho-
tographers can use Internet services
to e-mail photos to family and
friends. The Kodak EasyShare One
can connect to computer networks
wirelessly. In the early twenty-first
century, camera cell phones be-
came more popular than stand-
alone digital cameras.
Further Reading
Haskell, Bert.Portable Electronics Product Design and
Development: For Cellular Phones, PDAs, Digital Cam-
eras, Personal Electronics, and More. New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2004.
May, Alex.Multimedia: Digital Photography. New York:
Dorling Kindersley, 2000.
Towse, Mark.The Complete Guide to Digital Photogra-
phy. London: Sanctuary, 2003.
Alvin K. BensonSee also Cell phones; Computers; E-mail; Inter-
net; Inventions; Medicine; Photography; Science and
technology; Space exploration. Digital divide
Definition A term used to describe the gap in
access to and use of current communication
and computer technologyThe digital divide was considered a significant socioeco-
nomic issue of the information age. The term was first
coined in 1973 but was used during the 1990’s as a popu-
lar way to describe the social implications of a rapidly grow-
ing technological society.258 Digital divide The Nineties in America
A Hitachi employee displays an MP-EG1 camera, the world’s first MPEG-encoding
digital video camera, in 1997. The camera went on sale in Japan for 132,000 yen
($1,100).(AP/Wide World Photos)