History of Communication Andrew Seo
History of Communication Andrew Seo
What would you do if you went home or to work and you found that your phone was broken? People have become very dependent on communication devices like computers, phones, and walkie-talkies. But how did people actually communicate with each other long ago?
It started between 3500 BC to 2900 BC, when the Phoenicians developed an alphabet that made it possible to write down words. This made it possible to send messages on whatever possible material like wood and clay. When papyrus rolls and early parchments made of dried reeds were invented, they were widely used because they were the first portable and light writing surfaces.They were important because messengers could now carry lighter loads, making it faster to send messages.
In the year 14, the Romans established the first public postal service, making it possible to send messages faster. The Romans also created the heliograph that sent messages with mirrors making it possible to send messages long distances very quickly. It was very easy to use because all you needed was the sun and a mirror-like shield. Soldiers could send each other messages even if they were far away, and receive important information. The code in which the Romans communicated in is unknown, but later other countries used Morse code. It was the first time that they could send messages long distances without needing a human.
As the 1400s started, a lot of new inventions were made, like when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This new machine could print things like books, newspapers, and maps. Books, newspapers, and Bibles could be printed much faster making it possible for more people to read it. In the 1800s, another invention that changed people's’ lives was the electric telegraph. Joseph Henry invented this machine that was used by Lincoln himself during the Civil war. It sent signals long ranges only needing wires to send them. The message could be sent in seconds making is possible to communicate long distances. The telegraph could send signals in Morse code then be decoded later. In 1876, one of the most important invention in the history of communication was made. Alexander Graham Bell made the electric telephone. The early phone was much easier to use because it didn't communicate in codes but in clear words. The early phone had many limitations and is nothing like the smartphone