Former Kodak engineer Steve Sasson invented the digital camera 40 years ago.
And now he's getting credit -- or taking the blame, depending upon how you look at it -- for the ubiquitous "selfie."
Sasson took part in a panel discussion on innovation and invention at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian today.
He says the selfie is something that falls under the category of the law of unintended consequences.
"There's the intended or beneficial consequences, then there's the negative consequences and then there's the perverse consequences -- those things that make no sense at all," Sasson said.
Sasson invented the digital camera in 1975.
He said he made a mistake from the beginning when he would introduce the device to Kodak managers, calling his presentation "filmless" photography.
Many of those managers at the former film giant took exception to that.