In 1962, James West and Gerhard Sessler were granted a patent for a new kind of microphone, a small improvement in electronic engineering. It was compact, inexpensive, and sensitive enough to provide clear sound. Few could have predicted that this simple design would become one of the world's most widespread inventions. Today, according to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, this invention can be found in approximately 90% of the two billion microphones produced every year, quietly powering smartphones, laptops, hearing aids, and smart speakers.
Why microphones needed to change
