Polaroid & Zink Introduce the PoGo

It is almost a guarantee that we all once knew someone who owned some form of the Polaroid Land Camera. What was so special about these cameras back in the day was their ability to offer on-the-spot photo printing of the photos that we were taking. These cameras remained popular throughout nearly six decades (the camera was first introduced in 1948). The emergence of digital camera marked the end of the consumer demand for the Land Camera. This is why Polaroid came up with the world's first full-color, pocket-sized printer for digital cameras, simply known as the PoGo.

The PoGo is actually the brainchild of Polaroid's found, Edwin Land. He actually had the idea of a pocket sized printer nearly 30 years ago. It was he who challenged Polaroid's researchers to make color printers smaller by eliminating the need for liquid ink. The company tried hundreds of experiments over the years and kept falling short of their goal. This is why it is an exciting time for the company and the photo industry as a whole. The PoGo is going to introduce a new level of convenience to consumers who are continously looking for technology to become smaller and easier to use.

PoGo's initial breakthrough actually took place in 2000. Polaroid was able to develop a special dye that is clear when it is in its initial solid, crystalline form. However, it turns into a permanent color once the crystal melt and change shape. What is amazing about this is that different-colored crystals each have their own melting points. So this makes it possible for the company to create one full-color image at a time. The heat needs to be at a precise amount in order for the crystals to melt, something else that the makers of the PoGo were able to come up with during the final designs of the product.

Consumers have long been clamoring for something like the PoGo to hit the market. Polaroid would of brought the product to the market sooner, but it's bankruptcy in 2001 halted the creation of the PoGo. Several former employees formed a company known as Zink to bring the product to the market with a partnership with Polaroid, the company that made it all possible. Zink is also licensing the technology so that it can be further enhanced and placed into digital cameras in the future. The future for digital cameras and on the site photo printing is certainly here. Imagine forty years from now. We will be telling our kids about this amazing invention as we use our digital cameras to take pictures and print them on the spot to remember their growing up memories.

Sources:

www.polaroid.com