1994 Video Phone Allowed New Moms to Virtually Meet Babies

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In 1994, Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania offered new mothers the chance to introduce their newborns to distant family using one of the first video phones. The grainy image and slight delay didn't matter - what mattered was the ability to connect in real-time and see the new baby, even if the video quality was primitive by today's standards.

Why it matters

This early video phone technology represented a significant advancement in how people could stay connected, especially for new parents separated from loved ones. It foreshadowed the rise of video calling apps like FaceTime that have become ubiquitous today, allowing people to see and talk to each other remotely.

The details

Kathy Law had just welcomed her third child, a baby boy named Adam. Instead of waiting for photos in the mail or a long-distance phone call, Law was able to show her sister in Seattle the newest member of the family in real time. They could see each other, talk, and even watch baby Adam 'wave' goodbye, despite the grainy image and slight delay.

• In 1994, Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania offered the video phone service.