Photography & Innovation

Forecasting plays a key role in business planning for innovation (Bessant & Tidd, 2018). Forecasting helps evaluate the probability and significance of different possible future developments for managers to make decisions (Quinn, 1967).  The different types of forecasting methods include (Bessant & Tidd, 2018):

• Trend extrapolation
• Product & technology road mapping
• Regression economic models, and simulation
• Customer and marketing methods
• Benchmarking
• Delphi & experts 
• Scenarios

Technology can provide opportunities for growth and renewal, but there are challenges when trying to capitalize on them, which was the case for photography and its transition to the digital era.  Some companies are successful while others fail to capitalize on changes, whether influenced by technology, social, economic, etc.

An example of a prediction that came true was made by John Elfreth Watkins who predicted digital photography (Geoghegan, 2012).  He accurately predicted how people would use new photographic technology describing that photographs will be telegraphed from any distanced and will reproduce nature’s colors (Geoghegan, 2012).  

Photography involves the process of capturing an image through light and exposure and was referred to as a mechanical art (Gernsheim, 2020).  The vision and final photograph could be manipulated and controlled with a variety of artistic ways (Gernsheim, 2020).  Experiments to improve optical, chemical, and practical aspects of photographer were done during the 1800s to 1900s (Gernsheim, 2020).  Eventually social factors and other technology factors contributed to innovation in photography as well as the camera itself.  

Poloraid was known for its instant photography for many ears, however it did not innovate its business plan and strategy to adjust for the digital era and declared bankruptcy in 2001 (Wade, 2012). 

In 1975, Steven Sasson engineered and tested what is known as the first digital camera (Storm, 2015).  Forces that facilitated the innovation of the digital camera include technological and economic factors.  Over the years, scientists and inventors worked on technology to be able to reproduce images, for research, space exploration, as well as spy satellites(Storm, 2015).  Eventually in 1969, the vice president of AT&T labs gave George Smith and Willard Boyle an ultimatum to compete with technology or funds were going to be removed Storm, 2015).  This was an economic factor that continued to drive the innovation of digital photography, many other technology companies began to research their own digital camera (Storm, 2015).  Soon digital cameras were created, and one had the honor of being aboard a NASA spacecraft and used in space exploration (Storm, 2015)

References

Bessant, J.Tidd. J. (2018). Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change, Enhanced eText. [Colorado Technical University (CTU)]. Retrieved from https://coloradotech.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781119379416/

Geoghegan, T., (2012). Ten 100-year predictions that came true.  BBC News.  Retrieved from:  https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16444966

Gernsheim, H., (2020).  History of Photograpy.  Britannica.  Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/technology/photography 

Quinn, J., (1967). Technological Forecasting.  Harvard Business Review Online.  Retrieved from:  https://hbr.org/1967/03/technological-forecasting 

Revenaugh, D., (Presenter).  (2020, Nov 4).  Live Chat 1-Futuring and Innovation.  Colorado Technical University, Online.  

Storm, C., (2015).  In just one hour, two Bell Labs scientists had a breakthrough that won the Nobel Prize – and changed photography forever.  Business Insider.  Retrieved from: https://www.businessinsider.com/digital-photography-revolution-2015-4 

Wade, W. (2012) Scenario Planning: A Field Guide to the Future. John Wiley & Sons P&T. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.