You might have wondered how and who invented the first monitor. Well, you are in luck! There is a good amount of misinformation on the internet about this topic, so we researched and found all the information you need and consolidated it down for you.
The first computer monitor
Karl Ferdinand Braun invented the first monitor in 1897.
He was a German inventor, physicist and Nobel laureate (won the equivalent of Nobel peace prize in physics) in physics in 1909 with Guglielmo Marconi. On top of creating the first computer monitor, Karl Ferdinand Braun worked on wireless telegraphy, the transmission of text messages through radio waves, and development of the radio. He studied at University of Marburg for his equivalent of a bachelors degree and at University of Berlin for his PhD.
He invented the CRT monitor or the cathode ray tube monitor.
Early Computer monitors: Cathode ray tube computer monitor
The first computer monitors were the cathode ray tube monitors. CRT monitors are computer displays that have one or multiple electron guns that emit electron beams to display images on the screen. One electron gun creates a monochrome or black and white CRT monitor, while multiple electron guns create a colored monitor.
Cathode ray tubes or CRT monitors were the primary monitors used for almost 71 years till the liquid crystal displays came on the scene and took over the market for companies and at home computers.
LCD monitors
After CRT monitors, the liquid crystal display monitors or LCD monitors were invented and they have two pieces of glass that holds liquid between the glass in order to form the screen.
The light located in the back of the liquid crystal display screen generates an image through the crystals, so the user is able to see the image on the computer display.
The quality of the image depends not on the size of the screen, but the quality of the screen.
LCD monitors were invented in 1968 by George Heilmeier. He was an engineer who studied at University of Pennsylvania for his bachelors in electrical engineering and studied at Princeton for his masters and doctoral degree in solid-state materials and electronics. However, at home computer LCD monitors did not occur until the early 2000s.
LED monitors
Nick Holonyak invented the LED display in 1962. However, the first practical LED monitor was developed in 1968 by Howard Borden and Gerald Pighini.
Similar to LCD monitors, they have two pieces of glass that holds liquid between the glass to form the screen.
The LED monitors are processor tools that change electrical currents into light.
LEDs monitors use backlights to create the light.
They are under the umbrella of the LCD monitor, so they are a version of the liquid crystal display monitor.
Recap of computer monitors
They are output devices that shows information in pictures or texts.
The first computer monitor was invented by Karl Ferdinand Braun in 1897. He invented the cathode ray tube monitor.
71 years later, LCD monitors were invented by George Heilmeier in 1968 . Nick Holonyak invented the LED monitor in 1962. However, the first practical LED monitor was developed in 1968 by Howard Borden and Gerald Pighini.