John Logie Baird
A Scottish engineer and inventor who demonstrated the first working television system.
Most quoted
"The crude apparatus shook and trembled, and the image quivered and danced. But it was there. A human face, recognisable, yet ghostly and pale, stared from the screen."
— from Description of first television demonstration, 1925
"In the dance of electrons across a screen, I see not just technology, but the yearning of the human spirit to transcend its physical limitations."
— from Interview fragment
"I often wondered if the people watching my early broadcasts understood the sheer effort involved in getting that flickering image to them."
— from Biography/Interview
All quotes by John Logie Baird (413)
Every failure was a step closer to success.
The world needed a way to see beyond its immediate horizon.
I was a tinkerer, a dreamer, and a doer.
The power of light to carry images was a profound realization.
Television is more than just a machine; it's a medium for human connection.
The journey was arduous, but the destination was worth every step.
The problem of seeing by wireless is a fascinating one, and I am determined to solve it.
I have seen the face of a man by wireless! It is crude, but it is there!
My health is a constant worry, but the work must go on.
They call it 'television'. A good name, I think.
The BBC are a difficult lot. They don't seem to grasp the potential of this new medium.
I am often lonely, despite the excitement of my work.
The future of television is in colour. I am certain of it.
The public are fascinated. They crowd around the demonstrations.
My rivals are many, and their resources far greater than mine.
I sometimes wonder if it was all worth it, this constant struggle.
The quality of the pictures is improving daily. We are on the cusp of something great.
The BBC's decision to go with EMI's system is a bitter blow.
I still believe my system has advantages, despite the setbacks.
War is a terrible thing, but it has spurred on some interesting developments in electronics.
Contemporaries of John Logie Baird
Other Inventions born within 50 years of John Logie Baird (1888–1946).