Although best known for his contributions to photography and cinematography, Yacov Bogopolsky (Jacques Bolsky/Bolsey) was a prolific inventor and visionary in a variety of realms, from small appliances to new forms of transportation. As early as the 1930s, Yacov envisioned the need for small, electric-powered vehicles to take the place of gasoline-powered personal transportation. As a young man, prior to World War I, Yacov designed several types of gas masks to protect civilians from gas attacks. He was also active in fields as diverse as optics and city planning.