A British engineer who helped to invent the digital camera has slammed the selfie craze his work has created.
Last night, Dr. Michael Tompsett was one of four scientists awarded the $1.25 million Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.
But Tompsett told the BBC that although he felt pride in having played a role in inventing the world-changing technology, he “also felt the opposite” when confronted with bovine hordes of selfie-snappers.
“I feel frustrated by all these people who have cameras, taking pictures of everything in sight – and selfies,” he said.
“You are walking along and a selfie stick suddenly appears.”
“I sometimes think whoever invented this technology should be dealt with.”
The first digital photograph ever published was an image of Tompsett’s wife, Margaret.
Her face adorned the cover of Electronics Magazine, becoming what the BBC described as “the face that launched a trillion digital images.”
Tompsett was the first person to use a piece of technology called a “charge-coupled device” to capture images.
He shares the prize with Americans Eric Fossum and George Smith and Nobukazu Teranishi from Japan.
Lord Browne of Madingley, chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation, said: “The prize is awarded to four engineers who have revolutionized the way we capture and analyze visual information.”
“The spirit of international collaboration driving the work encapsulates perfectly the ideals of the QEPrize.”
“In honoring them we hope to inspire the next generation of engineers to continue to push back the frontiers of the possible.”
This article originally appeared on The Sun.
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