In 1991, Cliff Kushler developed T9, making keypad typing faster on early mobile phones

Even before mobile phones started taking photos everywhere, digital images suffered from a very simple problem. They looked good on a computer screen, but they consumed too much memory space and took a long time to transmit from one device to another.

In a world where computers only had limited memory space and the internet was not fast enough, a photo could sometimes be troublesome to store and share.All of that changed in 1992 when the Joint Photographic Experts Group developed a standard format for digital image compression. Not only did this lead to the creation of a new file format; it was actually the product of several years of work by engineers trying to make computers process photos in the same way regardless of their manufacturers.Solving the growing problem of digital photographyDuring the 1980s, digital imaging technology was developing rapidly. Cameras, scanners and computers were beginning to create and process photographs electronically, but there was no universal way to store or exchange those files efficiently. Different systems often used incompatible formats, making it difficult to move images between computers or software.Research published in the Information journal explains that the JPEG committee was formed to address these challenges by developing a common compression standard that balanced image quality, storage requirements and compatibility.

Rather than focusing only on reducing file size, the committee aimed to ensure that digital photographs could be exchanged reliably across different platforms.This was possible because the format used a compression algorithm that could strip away unnecessary visual details from an image. While the exact image data was not stored, its overall appearance remained intact using only a fraction of the data. That balance made the format well suited to photographs with millions of colours and subtle variations in light.

Another factor that helped establish the JPEG standard was the introduction of the JPEG File Interchange Format (JFIF).

A format that quietly transformed everyday lifeThe JPEG standard transformed digital photography by making high-quality images small enough to store, share and transmit efficiently across computers and the internetJPEG's importance extended far beyond engineering laboratories. Once photography became easy to save and transmit, digital imagery soon spread to daily life.

Personal computers could store more images, businesses could transfer their photos easily, and sites could show photographs without overloading the limited bandwidth of the internet.According to the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), researchers continue to describe JPEG as the world's most widely used lossy image-compression standard because it strikes a practical compromise. By accepting a small loss of image detail, it dramatically reduced storage requirements while maintaining visual quality that was more than adequate for everyday viewing.

This balance proved remarkably durable, allowing the format to remain useful even as cameras, computers and internet speeds improved.The format became widely supported and familiar in everyday technology. From digital cameras and websites to emails and smartphones, JPEG established a common language that allowed photographs to move effortlessly between different devices and operating systems. JPEG technology has been used to store digital photographs for more than three decades since its creation.

While newer formats serve specific purposes, JPEG remains widely used in cameras because it is efficient and reliable.JPEG technology is widely viewed as a practical way to reduce storage needs. The creation of smaller images that do not affect the usability of photos allowed the transformation of photography from a computer-specific activity to a day-to-day practice. Each time a photo is sent via email or posted online as a JPEG, it shows the format's broad impact on everyday life.