West, James E.

1931- · Contribution: 1962

Acoustical engineer and inventor

Foil electret microphone

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Technology & Engineering

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Quick facts

Born
1931, Prince Edward County, Virginia
Active since
1957
Category
Technology & Engineering
Best known for
Co-inventing the foil electret microphone

Impact on the world

West's microphone made high-quality sound capture cheap and compact enough to put in nearly every device that records or transmits audio, from phones to hearing aids.

An alternative history

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Sources

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    National Inventors Hall of Fame

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