Believe it or not, the webcam wasn’t invented for security, video conferencing, or fancy live streams. It was created because some thirsty computer scientists at Cambridge University were tired of walking to the breakroom only to find an empty coffee pot.
In 1991, they rigged up a camera that pointed at the coffee pot. This camera took a grainy photo of the pot three times a minute and streamed it live to their computers across the building. This way, they could check their screens before making the trip. Genius, right?
So, the next time you jump on a Zoom call, remember: you have a group of lazy, caffeine-loving academics to thank for that technology. The invention of the webcam proves that need is indeed the mother of invention!
