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Vladimir K. Zworykin

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Inventor

The Resume

    (July 30, 1888-July 29, 1982)
    Born in Murom, Russian Federation
    Developed the first electronic television system
    Patented the iconoscope camera tube (1931) and kinescope picture tube (1929)
    Had 120 patents
    Received the National Medal of Science (1967)

Why he might be annoying:

    After demonstrating his television system to his bosses at Westinghouse, he was told to spend his time on something 'a little more useful.'
    When he left for RCA, he told David Sarnoff it would cost $100,000 to perfect his system; instead, as Sarnoff noted, it cost $50 million 'before we ever got a penny back.'
    He complained, 'We never dreamed of Howdy Doody on television. We always thought television would find its highest value in science and industry.'
    If he thought 'Howdy Doody' was disappointing, it's a good thing he didn't live long enough to see 'When Animals Attack' and Jackass.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He rejected the title 'Father of Television,' noting that he was one of many scientists involved.
    With some refinements, the modern TV picture tube remains the kinescope that he developed decades ago.
    As director of RCA Labs in Princeton, he spearheaded the program to invent the electron microscope.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 17 Votes: 64.71% Annoying