Vladimir Zworykin

Inventor of the iconoscope and kinescope that created modern electronic television systems

Vladimir Zworykin (1888-1982) emigrated from Russia to America, where his electronic television patents revolutionized global communication. His 1923 iconoscope (TV camera tube) and 1929 kinescope (TV receiver) replaced mechanical systems with all-electronic broadcasting.

At RCA, Zworykin's team developed infrared night vision during WWII and early electron microscopes. His vision of 'radio cinema' evolved into modern streaming services. The IEEE estimates 95% of TV technology until 2000 derived from his patents.

Though overshadowed by corporate battles over TV rights, Zworykin's fusion of physics and engineering created mass media's infrastructure. From moon landing broadcasts to smartphone screens, his electronic imaging principles remain fundamental to digital civilization.