This is the first television, originally called an "image dissector." The inventor didn't like it at first, but something changed his mind!

Good news everyone! The inventor of the thing we've all come to cherish so much finally warmed up to his invention, only after it helped him witness a great historic event. The man was Philo Farnsworth, and his fabulous invention was the television—which he wasn't too hot on until 1969.

Farnsworth was born in 1906 and is best known for inventing the first fully functional all-electric image pickup device (more commonly known as a video camera tube), called the "image dissector." He also made the all-electric television possible, something that nearly every household has at least one of.

While we know the television as a revolutionary piece of technology today, making things like instant news, entertainment, and education possible, Farnsworth doubted its significance after he invented it. He did eventually understand its place in history when he watched Neil Armstrong take the first steps on the moon in real time. Phil turned to his wife and said "Pem, this has made it all worthwhile."

Farnsworth died at the age of 64 in 1971, less than two years after his new-found pride in his greatest accomplishment.

(Source)