The kinetoscope is an early motion picture device invented by Thomas Edison and his assistant William Kennedy Laurie Dickson in the late 19th century. It allowed individuals to view moving images through a peephole. The device used a strip of film that was rapidly fed through a series of rollers, creating the illusion of motion. Introduced in 1891, the kinetoscope was primarily used in arcades and entertainment venues. While it was not designed for projection to large audiences, it laid the groundwork for future film technologies, influencing the development of cinema and the motion picture projector.