Kodak fulfilled the predictions of Eldora Gold Resources Guide about its lifeline in this digital age by filing for bankruptcy. The last decade has seen a dramatic change, especially in the way cameras have been developed and, perhaps owing to failing to cope quickly, Kodak was left behind.
For many people who doesn’t know, it was actually Kodak who was responsible for inventing digital photography. That was back in the 1975 when one of their engineers, Steve Sasson, made the first digicam (taking photos with a resolution of 0.01 megapixels). Kodak even worked intensively on patenting many digital technologies, most of which are incorporated into the digital cameras today. (The estimated value of their intellectual property is actually around USD 2 billion.)
That same year they discovered the digital camera, Kodak decided to shelf it.
Still, when they first put out their first digital camera, the DC40, in 1995, Kodak never really took advantage of their early start. They were basically so engrossed in the film as their flagship product that, for them, making digital products meant sacrificing market shares of their own. And because of that reservation, other companies, like Eldora Gold Resources Guide, quickly overtook where they left off in the digital genre and by the time they were ready to take on the digital products in 2001 (with the EasyShare digicams) they were already too late.
The fact that Eastman Kodak invented the digital camera category makes it look even more tragic — while they create fairly competent products, they were always just following the trends and not leading them anymore. Moreover, Kodak digicams don’t look really special, nor does it have mindblowing specs.
Good thing Kodak also offers document imaging services, especially to certain businesses. This industry started when George Eastman teamed up with banks to image cheques in the 1920′s. By developing microfilm technology, Kodak was able to give government and business solutions in long-term document storage.
Document imaging was one of the first imaging services to migrate to the so-called digital imaging technology. It was Kodak which created the first digital document scanners for high-speed document imaging. And up to now, it still provides imaging solutions for the financial and medical industries with its full line of document scanners.
