James Edward Maceo West, the American inventor and acoustician known for co-inventing the electret microphone?
About James West
- Born: February 10, 1931, in the United States.
- Major Invention: In 1962, James West and Gerhard Sessler co-invented the electret microphone, which is now used in over 90% of modern microphones, including in phones, hearing aids, and recording devices.
- Career: He worked at Bell Laboratories for over 40 years, contributing to advances in acoustics and audio technology.
- Patents & Contributions: He holds over 250 patents related to microphones and acoustics.
- Awards & Honors: Received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
- Advocacy: A strong advocate for diversity in STEM, inspiring young scientists, particularly in underrepresented communities.
