History of Pixels
The word “pixel” is a fusion of picture and element, which has its roots in the early times when digital imaging was just beginning to emerge. The concept of pixels emerged alongside the development of the first digital images, primarily driven by the need for efficient representation and processing of visual information. 1950s and 60s when computer graphics and digital imaging technologies began, researchers were trying to find a method of converting visual information into digital form. This led to the creation of such things as a part or individual element in digital image called pixel, which can be defined with color and brightness characteristics. The concept was revolutionary because it gave a way to mimic visual information in the structured form that computers could understand and process.
What is a Pixel?
A pixel is the smallest unit of a digital image or display and stands for “picture element.” It is a very small, isolated dot that stands for one color and plays the most basic part in digital images. Pixels when combined help to create the mosaic of colors and shapes contributing towards visual content being displayed on screens such as smartphones, computers TVs, etc., or any other digital devices that we interact with every day. Each pixel has certain distinctive features; for instance, its location within the image which is defined by coordinates (usually measured in terms of rows and columns) as well as color details, brightness degree, etc., and sometimes — transparency value.
In digital imaging, a grid of pixels can be seen and the combination of thousands or millions of such ‘pixels’ creates an overall visual representation that users see on their screens. The term pixels, which means picture units, came about when digital imaging technologies were developed in the mid-20th century. Pixels help to implement visual information into a digital standard with which computers and other equivalent electronic devices can process, store, and show images. An image resolution is based on the number of pixels it incorporates, and higher resolutions generally lead to more detailed images.