The Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera

2357 Words5 Pages

Technology and Innovation Management

CASE STUDY OF A SIGNIFCANT INNOVATION : THE POLAROID SX-70 LAND CAMERA

Introduction

Today, the possibility of taking pictures and instantly sharing them with other people is a given. But that was not always the case. In the 1970’s, photography was a discipline reserved for professionals. Cameras cost a lot, and film negatives had to be sent to photo laboratories in order to be developed and printed. Enters the Polaroid SX-70.

First introduced in 1972, the Polaroid SX-70 Land camera, first instant camera entirely designed for the average consumer, is one of the most revolutionary technology innovations of the 20th century. This camera allowed the user to easily take quality pictures, which would then be printed directly into the owner’s hands. Its entire design was made for the user’s comfort, from the physical aspect (the camera could be folded and could fit inside a pocket) to the ease of use of the product (the user just had to point at an object, focus, and press a button).

We often consider Sony’s Walkman or Apple’s Iphone as the last century’s greatest technology innovations, but the SX-70 has its place on the “World’s Greatest Innovation Products” shelf. The SX-70 made the front page of both Time and Life Magazine, and was according to Fortune Magazine, “one of the most remarkable accomplishments in industrial history. The project involved a series of scientific discoveries, inventions, and technological innovations in fields as disparate as chemistry, optics, and electronics.” (Fortune magazine, 1972). In 1974, 700 000 SX-70s were sold, and renowned artists such as Andy Warhol adopted the camera. The SX-70 was one of the first products that was entir...

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