If Kodak was smart back in the 50s, it would have put its extensive resources into creating and improving cheap and safe film developing kits for kids up through at least the 80s. Could have had a few generations of kids, parents and other adults doing that as a hobby despite the advent of digital cameras, as opposed to the costly activity that it has always seemed to be. I was interested in it for a while but couldn’t afford Kodak’s film developing materials and equipment. Even in school we were limited to what we could do because of the cost of materials. Kodak would have lost some of its own development revenue but lasted longer.
Kodak invented the digital camera…….in the 1970s. They figured no one would want it as they’d rather have physical pictures. Then in the early 2000s as other companies were launching affordable digital cameras - Kodak invested heavily in new type of film. They tried to launch a digital camera, but it had a higher price point and was already too late. They went from cutting edge tech to behind the times and failed to adapt.
I really enjoyed photography 50 years ago using a very good SLR rig and a collection of amazing quality Canon glass lenses. But every Kodachrome or Ektachrome shot cost $1, so I was always taking care to compose a good shot and asked myself “Is this shot worth $1?”
Today you get 20 shots of your burger and beer for almost nothing.
I took photography in high school. Developing was a PITA. And the stink. Dark rooms, projectors, baths of horrible chemicals, the paper, AND you had to have a dedicated room just for that hobby. Not sure how a small kid friendly portable developing system could have ever been developed.