Inventors: Dr. David Warren

Dr. David Warren first conceived the idea or recording information about an airplane while he was listening to an investigation about the mysterious crash of one of the first commercial jet aircraft. The investigation was difficult due to the lack of evidence: there were no survivors or witnesses to the crash. A device that recorded conversations and data about the airplane would have been very helpful.
His device did not get widespread support at first: there was opposition to having a “big brother” listening device, as well as concerns that the devices would not contribute much to investigations. Eventually, however, the devices became mandatory on all civil airplanes in countries such as Great Britain, Australia, and others.
Today the black box is required on practically all aircraft, and provides crucial information about why airplanes crash. The devices today continue to be held to higher and higher standards, and are now including digital recording devices as opposed to magnetic tape.

*Pictures from http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.
dsto.defence.gov.au/corporate/history/jubilee/sixtyyears5.html

Sources:
The Black Box: An Australian Contribution to Air Safety. 12 Oct 2003. <http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.
dsto.defence.gov.au/corporate/history/jubilee/sixtyyears5.html>

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