Though 3D may seem outdated, its roots date back centuries. We’re all familiar with amazing 3D shows and movies. The Power of Love was the first 3D film ever shown publicly in 1922, using red/green anaglyph glasses and dual strip projection to remove the background from image. Polarization-based 3D movies became immensely popular during the 1950s and 1960s. A woman of African American descent invented it. Today, we honor Valerie Thomas as one of our Black Female Inventors Who Are Shaping Technology & Design Now.
Specific names stand out for their groundbreaking contributions in the annals of technological innovation. One such pioneer is Valerie Thomas, a black female inventor whose ingenuity has left an indelible mark on technology and design. From her early beginnings to her continued influence today, Thomas’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and determination.
Early Life and Education
Valerie Thomas was born in Maryland in 1943 when opportunities for Black women in STEM fields were scarce. Thomas was fascinated with electronics and mathematics as a child. She watched her dad disassemble their television set and develop photos; reading books written specifically for boys about electronics kept her interested. Despite attending an all-girls school that placed less importance on math and science studies, Valerie soon became interested in STEM subjects. Valerie Thomas picked up The Boy’s First Book of Electronics at age eight from her local library. Its mechanical parts instantly took her and showed it to her father; unfortunately, he disapproved and indirectly said that electronics weren’t for girls.
Despite her challenges, Thomas has shown a keen interest in science and technology from a young age. Encouraged by her parents, she pursued her education with enthusiasm. Eventually, she enrolled at Morgan State University. At this public historically Black research university, she majored in physics- one of only two women to do so at that time- and had an outstanding academic record.
Within weeks after graduating from Morgan State University, Valerie Thomas began working at NASA. Utilizing her college-taught computer skills, she assisted in creating data processing software from satellites used by scientists to capture data. Valerie eventually oversaw image processing systems for Orbiting Geophysical Observatory and Landsat satellites that sent images back from space. [1] and soon rose through NASA ranks quickly.
Valerie Thomas continued her studies and gained two master’s degrees, one from George Washington University (1985) and a doctorate in educational leadership/technological education from the University of Delaware (2004). Over time, Thomas received numerous honors and awards, such as the Goddard Space Flight Center Award of Merit and the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal.
Valerie Thomas was essential in developing many other NASA programs and systems beyond Landsat. These included the Space Physics Analysis Network, Spectral Data Transfer Protocol, and Space Science Data Operations Office.
The Creation of the Illusion Transmitter
During her tenure at NASA, Valerie Thomas would make her most significant contribution to the world of technology. She translated raw data from Orbiting Geophysical Observatory satellites into formats scientists could understand. There was no direct satellite communication then, so she downloaded data when they passed near Earth using LACIE (Landsat Acquisition Communications and Information Extraction).
In the 1970s, Valerie Thomas had an epiphany at a scientific conference that would forever change her career path in 1976. Thomas was inspired by an exhibit at a science museum where she witnessed an illusionary light bulb that continued to glow after being unscrewed from its socket and removed from its socket; later, she learned this illusion was created using two light bulbs and concave mirrors. Inspired by this experience, she experimented with concave mirrors, which allow images seen at one end to be reproduced at the other. This groundbreaking invention allowed viewers to perceive three-dimensional images without special glasses or equipment. Thomas conceptualized the idea for what would later become known as the Illusion Transmitter. Thomas earned a patent in 1980 for this “illusion transmitter” technology and invented and patented an illusion transmitter for 3D movies and surgery.
Influence on 3D Technology
Thomas’s invention laid the groundwork for developing three-dimensional imaging technology, revolutionizing the entertainment and medicine industries. 3D technology, with film, television, gaming, and beyond applications, is ubiquitous today. Valerie Thomas is highly recognized for inventing the technology that produces the captivating 3-D effect in Avatar!
Impact on Design and Technology Today
Valerie has contributed to NASA for much of her career as a multi-patented scientist, mathematician, physicist, and inventor. The work of Alerie Thomas has had a significant impact on numerous movies and television shows, including the well-known Avatar movie. But she’s not only an entertainment impact; her creative energy and relentless dedication to perfection continue to inspire numerous young innovators and designers in the domains of technology and design. In addition to changing the technical environment, Thomas’s groundbreaking work in 3D imaging has opened doors for future generations to defy prejudices and transform the world via art. Thomas has paved the way for future generations to break barriers and leave their mark on the planet.
Honoring Tradition: Celebrating More Trailblazers
Websites must perform competently to rank highly on search engines, which means being fast, having easily located links, and offering fillable forms. Web designers utilize their expertise to ensure that sites meet these standards while providing visitors an enjoyable browsing experience.
Website design often means more than aesthetic elements; it must also consider functional considerations of a site, including where users should click to go to new pages, what information should be highlighted, and how each element on a page should be organized. Furthermore, the efficiency of a website’s performance can be likened to the precision and order found in a Fibonacci series, where each element builds upon the last to create a seamless and harmonious whole.
Web designers typically require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent experience and knowledge of software programs like Adobe Creative Cloud or CorelDraw Graphics Suite. Furthermore, they must understand principles such as visual balance, symmetry, and proportionality to design sites that appeal to visitors while giving off the correct impressions.
Dominique Hollins is a web developer with expertise in building user-friendly websites for visitors, making their experience as easy and hassle-free as possible. Additionally, she founded the Black Web Development Community, bringing together industry professionals and entrepreneurs to share knowledge and ideas.
The Adobe Express Selection Tool makes it easy to remove backgrounds from images by selecting pixels that match those of objects, making cutting out and replacing an experience with something new an effortless process.
Adobe Express provides a free version for hands-on image processing with flexible, customizable options and powerful tools like shape crop and photo filters to create stunning visual content without much effort. Plus, Adobe Express works across desktop and mobile platforms for quick workflows.
But it isn’t enough just to build community and empower women in tech; we also must address the systems that continue to exclude black tech hub professionals. That is why the Black Web Development community gathers a diverse network of entrepreneurs, advocates, and leaders who work in tech and other fields – creating a movement to ensure all communities have the resources they need to thrive in our rapidly evolving world.
Finally, an Innovative Legacy
Although she retired in 1995, Valerie Thomas’s legacy as an outstanding scientist and educator inspires young people of color worldwide. It’s making an impact. She still actively promotes her STEM career by visiting schools and encouraging her children to pursue their passions. Valerie Thomas is a temporary high school science teacher who continues to work for NASA. She encourages female students to choose a career in her STEM subjects. She is also involved with SHADES OF BLUE, a nonprofit organization that provides training and internship opportunities for young people in the aerospace industry.
Hip-hop singer Chance The Rapper introduced Valerie Thomas to a younger audience by tweeting about her efforts to promote STEM majors. Valerie undoubtedly has a considerable influence, and many will always appreciate her contribution. She considers herself a lifelong student and enjoys imparting her knowledge and interests to others. To achieve this, she has vigorously encouraged more girls to seek jobs in science and technology, promoting her STEM subjects. Forbes also ran a cover story about their efforts. To summarize, she has an inventive legacy.
Conclusión
A background remover tool is one of the many photo editing tools available in Adobe Express, a mobile app that Adobe created. This tool allows users to easily remove background from image, which can help make digital compositions or isolate subjects.
While both concepts involve elements of visual perception and manipulation, there is no direct connection between Valerie Thomas’ illusion transmitter and Adobe Express’s background remover tool. However, both demonstrate the power of human creativity and innovation in leveraging technology to manipulate visual elements.
In summary, Valerie Thomas has improved technology and design. Thomas’s influence may still be seen in the modern world, from her groundbreaking creation of the Illusion Transmitter to her lasting impact on 3D imaging and beyond. While we honor her accomplishments, let’s also recognize the many other trailblazers—like Dominique Hollins—who are continuing her legacy and influencing technology and design in the future.
Considering these exemplary women and their magnificent work, Adobe Express can be used as a pedagogical resource that, besides being helpful, is very intuitive, allowing you, among many other tools, to remove background from image and create beautiful and creative things. After all, if a light bulb led Valerie Thomas to invent 3D, who knows how far you can go?
Author Bio: “Jen Alston is an SEO Specialist on contract with Adobe Express. With over two decades of experience in SEO, graphic design, digital marketing, and content creation, she’s a top contributor and expert in the industry. Jen was one of the first black females, who helped to pioneer link building and guest posting, when she started in SEO, in 2012. In her free time, she loves repurposing items for her outdoor space, traveling, journaling, and spending time with her kids, granddaughter, and four cats.”
