8: Electrifying Communication- The Telegraph and Telephone
- Page ID
- 222659
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The development of the telegraph was a turning point in communication history that ushered in the modern era of telecommunications. It transformed the information sharing process by enabling nearly instantaneous communication over great distances. Messages were delivered by horse or ship prior to the telegraph, which could take days or weeks. The telegraph had a significant impact on business, media, and interpersonal communication since it allowed information to be conveyed quickly across continents.
By enabling direct communication across great distances, the telephone further revolutionized communication. The telephone allowed for more casual and intimate communication between people since it was more widely available to the general population than the telegraph, which needed skilled operators to send and receive coded messages. Various social, political, and economic considerations influenced the creation and broad use of these technologies, including their impact on communities like the deaf community and their strategic use during conflicts like the Civil War.
Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, and Samuel Morse were among the prominent individuals who made substantial contributions to the field of telecommunications technology development, frequently in the face of rivalry and controversy. Their inventions impacted everything from daily social interactions to international commercial operations, laying the foundation for contemporary communication networks. The telephone and telegraph demonstrated the continuous evolution of human connection and communication, laying the groundwork for the digital communication technologies that characterize our modern world.
- 8.1: Historical and Technological Developments
- This page outlines the significant role of the telegraph in the Civil War, showcasing its use by the Union and its transformative impact on communication and military operations. Abraham Lincoln’s strategic use of the telegraph is emphasized, while the evolution to the telephone, notably through Alexander Graham Bell's controversial contributions, is explored. Bell's mixed legacy includes advancements in deaf education and technology but also contentious views on the deaf community.
- 8.2: Impacts of the Telegraph
- This page explores the historical and ongoing significance of undersea cables and telegraph technology in global communication. It outlines how telegraphs enabled modern imperialism by enhancing message exchanges and economic integration while introducing concepts like time zones. The evolution of communication technologies from telegraphs to the Internet emphasized the interplay between technology and society, revealing similarities in their impacts.
- 8.3: From Dots and Dashes to Dial Tones
- This page chronicles the historical evolution of the telephone from its inception in 1877, highlighting its impact on the telegraph industry, design advancements like the candlestick phone, the role of manual switchboards with female operators, and automatic switching technology. It addresses societal challenges, including fears around digit dialing, privacy, and gender roles, while recognizing the revolutionary effect of the telephone on information dissemination and communication practices.