Benton held 14 patents in optical physics and photography, and taught media arts and sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He was the E. Rudge ('48) and Nancy Allen Professor of Media & Sciences, and the Director for Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) at MIT.

Benton first became interested in optics at 11 when he wore a pair of 3-D glasses to view the Vincent Price movie House of Wax.

[1] Benton received his undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in electrical engineering (1963) and worked with Professor Harold "Doc" Edgerton, a pioneer in stroboscopy.

During his undergraduate career, Benton also worked with Edwin H. Land, the co-founder of Polaroid Corp. and inventor of instant photography, in the company's vision research laboratory.

"[6] Dr. Benton was the founding head of the MIT Program in Media Arts & Sciences from 1987 to 1994 and became the director for the Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) in 1996.

[6] His research in holography helped in the advancement of holographic technology integral to medical imaging devices like CT and MRI scanners.

Benton thought of holography as an ''intersection of art, science and technology'' One of his works, Volumetric Rendering of Magnetic Resonance Imaging--Acquired Data, Digital Hologram is currently on display at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

[1] 1976 – 1977: President of the New England section of OSA[13] 1980 – 1984: Chairman for the U.S. National Committee for the International Commission for Optics[13] 1990 – 1993: Board of Directors for the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE)[13] 1995: Vinci of Excellence Award at the International Science for Art competition[4] 1999: Vice President for the Society for Imaging Science and Technology[13] 2005: Posthumously awarded the Edwin H. Land Medal[14] Board of Trustees for the Museum of Holography in New York[4] Boards of Trustees for Rochester's Museum of Photography at Georges Eastman's House[4] The Benton family from the animated TV series Jem and The Holograms was named after the holography pioneer.