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In June 1997, software developer Philippe Kahn is about to become a father for the first
time. When his wife goes into labor, Philippe decides
to try something that has never been done before: to share a picture of his new-born
baby wirelessly with his family and friends.
He's got a laptop, a camera, and a cell phone, but no way of connecting them.
Amazingly, he found the solution in his car. A simple speaker cable that allows him to
invent the camera phone. I ripped out the speaker phone from my car
and took out the speakers and rewired the whole thing.
In a matter of hours, Philippe has his idea up and running.
The race is now on to get back to the room before the birth of his baby daughter.
I never thought I could get it working in time to share the picture of Sophie's birth.
But the adrenaline, and getting it to work was such, that, you know, you make miracles
happen. Small baby, big hands. I could hold her with
one hand. And I go okay that's my left hand, I have
my gear over there, click click click. Maybe I'll try to take the picture. And I did.
Just minutes after his daughter Sophie is born, her photo is making its way across the
web. The first ever digital image uploaded from a cell phone to a social network.