Canon's first president was originally a medical doctor, and shortly after the company was founded, it developed the first indirect X-ray camera to be manufactured in Japan. In 1974, Canon set up its Audiovisual Prosthetics Division with the aim of promoting the "Optacon," a U.S.-made electronic reader for the blind. These beginnings exemplified the company's dedication to returning corporate profits to the community. Later, the role of this arm of the business declined with the increasing use of voice input devices and personal computers, but it was these activities that gave rise to Canon's subsequent interest in programs that contribute to the community. In the years to come, social and cultural support activities tailored to local needs or the requirements of the time will continue to play an integral part of Canon's business operations.