Hovannes Adamian Armenian engineer and inventor Date of Birth: 05.02.1879

1. Hovhannes Adamian: The Father of Color Television
2. Early Life and Education
3. Color Television Development
4. Patent Breakthroughs
5. Russian Contributions
6. The 'Erivan' System
7. Legacy and Recognition

Hovhannes Adamian: The Father of Color Television

Hovhannes Adamian, an Armenian engineer and inventor, is renowned for his pioneering work in the field of color television. With over 20 inventions to his credit, his most notable creation remains the first working color television system.

Early Life and Education

Born into an Armenian merchant family in Tiflis, Adamian excelled in his studies, graduating from school in Baku in 1897. His pursuit of higher education took him to prestigious institutions in Europe, including Zurich and Berlin.

Color Television Development

While Adamian initially experimented with black-and-white models, his name became synonymous with color television. Working independently, he developed the theoretical principles of a three-color image transmission system alongside other notable researchers, such as Paul Nipkow. However, it was Adamian who successfully created the first functional model.

Patent Breakthroughs

On March 31, 1908, Adamian secured a patent in Germany, followed by another in the United Kingdom on April 1, 1908. Although his patented model represented a groundbreaking concept for color television, it initially displayed only two colors (white and red). Adamian later developed a prototype with three colors.

Russian Contributions

In 1913, Adamian relocated to Saint Petersburg, Russia. While he made periodic trips to Armenia, he spent considerable time in Russia, continuing his work on television development. In 1918, he constructed the first television system in the country, capable of transmitting static black-and-white images.

The 'Erivan' System

In 1925, Adamian unveiled his groundbreaking invention: the 'Erivan' system, designed to broadcast color images. With the assistance of collaborators, he successfully transmitted a series of colored drawings and patterns from one room to another. The 'Erivan' employed an electro-mechanical system featuring three rotating discs.

Legacy and Recognition

Despite the eventual obsolescence of electro-mechanical color television, Adamian's 'Erivan' system demonstrated several principles that would be adopted in electronic models. He passed away in Leningrad in 1932, and his remains were later interred in Yerevan, Armenia. Adamian's legacy continues to inspire generations of innovators and engineers in the field of television and beyond.