Answer
In 1839, the daguerreotype process was introduced to the public. This groundbreaking photographic technique, invented by Louis Daguerre, utilized a silver-coated copper plate to capture images. The process involved exposing the plate to light in a camera obscura, developing it with mercury vapor, and fixing it with sodium thiosulfate. The daguerreotype produced highly detailed and permanent images, revolutionizing the field of photography and making it accessible to a wider audience.