The world’s first karaoke machine has been officially recognized as a major innovation in entertainment. The honor was given by a U.S.-based organization that promotes advances in technology.
At a ceremony held Thursday in Tokyo, the family of Shigeichi Negishi received a commemorative plaque. Negishi invented the machine, known as the “Music Box,” in 1967. He passed away last year at the age of 100.
“My father was very thankful that people around the world enjoy karaoke,” said Akihiro Negishi, the inventor’s son. “He didn’t expect it to become a global trend when he first created it.”
The original karaoke machine was a 30-centimeter cube. It included a microphone, a tape player, and a coin box to accept payments.
The award, called the IEEE Milestone, is presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It honors technologies that have made a lasting impact on society and industry. To qualify, a technology must be at least 25 years old.
