mcom3190

In both optical and electric telegraphy, various forms of progress resulted for communication and journalism. The invention of the telegraph led to the division of journalism to two major categories. First is the information press, which had been the main form of news previous to this time period. However, one of the results of the initial invention of the telegraph was the rise of the entertainment press, which occurred in response to the social change of a growing urban working class. As I was reading this, I thought to myself, “So… Mr. Chappe is to blame for this countries obsession with Britney Spears.” It’s amazing to me that this desire for entertainment news has been maintained since the 1794. For over 200 hundred years, this absurd concept of being engrossed in the gossip of other people’s lives has been maintained, especially concerning people we don’t know personally, such as celebrities, and for that matter will probably never know personally. That whole obsession started with a contraption made of wood, iron, ropes, and stone with moveable arms to convey a message.
Also, there were several instances that both Daniel Headrick and Tom Standage mentioned who primarily used telegraphy. Headrick stated that the telegraph “opened up real-time information to railways, stockbrokers, capitalists, and merchants, to newspapers, and finally to the general public.” As I had already formed the concept in my mind for who was using this system, Standage came right out and said it: “But because this service was expensive, only the rich could afford to use the network to send trivial messages; most people used the telegraph strictly to convey really urgent news.” It seemed quite apparent to me that since this technology was new to people, it became exclusive. So while of the major goals, as mentioned by Headrick, was to make news available for the general public, this was definitely not happening with telegrams. He also mentioned that the first optical telegraph in the United States ran from New York to Philadelphia, and of all the motivations to have a form of rapid communication, that line was used to convey stock prices and lottery numbers.
While I understand that when a new form of technology is presented to the general public prices have to be raised to increase venues to keep the invention afloat, in these instances the goal of creating a telecommunication system for the general public to receive information was not met. While telegrams were a part of everyday conversations and a new, exciting way to communicate over long distances, those abilities were restricted to not only those could afford it, but primarily to the capitalist sectors of society.

I found the readings assigned from Communication in History on the telegraph very interesting in the fact that I see very specific correlation with the adoption of the telegraph, both optical and electric, in countries such as France, England, the United States, etc. as following the same pattern as outlined in Roger’s Diffusion of Innovations.  For example, France would be considered not only the “innovators” but also the “early adopters” with first initially creating the optical telegraph, and spreading it throughout the country mostly to be used strategically by the government as a means of communicating during times of war, etc.  As the optical telegraph caught on it began to spread throughout other European countries, the “early majority,” adopting this technology as a way to communicate faster, mostly for defense and economic purposes by governments.  As this faster means of communication began to spread the countries of Egypt and Australia who can be seen as the “late majority” utilized the optical telegraph as well.  By the time the technology was making its move to the United States, who might be argued as the “laggards,” the adoption of the optical telegraph dropped off considerably because Samuel Morse had developed a way to make communication even faster, clearer and cheaper. 

Morse’s invention of the electric telegraph started the diffusion all over again.  The United States became the “innovators” spreading the electric telegraph down their railroad lines.  The European countries of England, Prussia, and Germany became the “early majority” of the electric telegraph.  Networks began establishing all over the world in Cuba, Australia, and in some parts of South America.  These regions can be seen as the “late majority.”  Surprisingly, the “laggard” in the diffusion of the electric telegraph was France.  This was primarily a result of their hesitance to let go of their own creation, the optical telegraph.  Even when they finally adopted the electric telegraph, the amount of wire spread throughout the country was considerably less than other regions of Europe.   I think it is fascinating that by tracing the movement from the optical to the electric telegraph and applying Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation to both of these technologies you can clearly see that the telegraph truly started this phenomenon on the way we interact with new technologies in communication.

Tags: Andrea

From the beginning of humanity, people have had the need to relay messages from place to place and from person to person.  The problem with communication was that it solely relied on the technology of transportation at the time.  Whether it be walking, running, horse and buggy, train, then to cars and airplanes; the biggest set back was the time it took to get from point A to point B.  This posed an issue for urgent and important messages.

The invention of the telegraph greatly improved communication efficiency.  This technology enabled people to quickly and efficiently transmit messages with others that have the same technology at the other end.  This was all done through a system of wires that followed existing railroad lines that ran all across the continent. This opened up opportunities for companies around the United States and around the world to communicate with one another.  Businesses could send work orders to their suppliers without having to rely on slower means of transportation.

One of the main issues surrounding this new technology was understanding the language.  The system of Morse code is a whole new language in and of itself.  One benefit of this new technology was that it opened up many job opportunities.  Now people can be senders, receivers and decoders.

The next innovation in communicative technology was the telephone.  Now people could use their own voices and native language to transfer messages to one another illuminating the needs for learning Morse code completely.  Some did argue that Morse code could transmit quantitative data better, but the telephone trumped the telegraph in all other categories. Not only did it eliminate the need for proficiency of Morse code, but it also was much more instantaneous and relievable. Unlike the telegraph, a message could be transmitted regardless of weather conditions or the time of day.  With both these inventions, starting with the telegraph and improving with the telephone, people could now communicate with others more efficiently and could span much greater areas.

The telegraph was the early, early precursor to the text message. An instantaneous written message that gets from point A to point B. When the telegraph was first thought of, it revolutionized the communication world. No longer were feet required to send or receive some sort of communication. The series of dots and dashes could be translated into a completely comprehensible sentence or even string of sentences. Considering that was in 1842, the world of text communication has come a long way. Email can be placed in the same category as the telegraph. An instant written response. Email revolutionized the way people work and how offices run. The written communications world had to catch up to the fast pace that was soon to be a normal pace of life for most people in the world. The email lets you contact just about anyone in a fraction of the time. As long as you have a computer and you have internet access, you were reachable. The text message, again, pushed the limit to how instant communication has become. Since most people have personal cell phones, text messages are received in real time, unlike emails, where you are not guaranteed to be at your computer 24 hours a day checking for new emails. THe cell phone, however, has become an appendage of sorts for the average being. Almost never will you catch someone how does not have their phone on them at any given time. The text message is just another way to connect to people in a faster manor. A new generation of texts messaging appeared when smart phones entered the market. WIth blackberry’s, you can Blackberry message someone, which is even faster and more of an ongoing conversation that both parties can read the entire conversation. With the iphone, the same this is available. You can see the entire thread of your conversation and respond accordingly. When the telegraph was invented, written technology started its essential climb to the top of the communication networks.

There are many examples of the profound effects of the invention and implementation of the telegraph. It can be argued that none were as profound as the effects on military communications. In the United States, the first major conflict in which the telegraph played a major role was the civil war. Prior to the telegraph, the speed with which a military commander could gather information, disseminate intelligence, issue orders, and receive updates from subordinate commanders in the field, was limited to forms of communication that had been in use for several thousand years. These methods included: foot or mounted (horse) messengers, reflective surfaces known as heliographs, flags, and extended systems of towers used to pass signals in a form of visual relay called an optical telegraph.

These methods placed limitations on commanders at the Army, corps, and division levels. These levels of command include large numbers of personnel and large quantities of equipment and supplies. It is critical for commanders at all three of these levels to be able to make sound and timely decisions, and issue orders to his subordinate commanders as quickly as possible. In the History Channel’s Telegraph During the American Civil War, a map of the whole civil war theater of operations was displayed in order to show the advantage in the number of telegraph lines that the North had over the South. Throughout history, opposing military forces are always striving for any advantage over the enemy. A leap forward in capability such as the telegraph, and the ability of the North to out-produce the South in this area gave them a distinct advantage which had a profound effect on many of the battlefield systems of the era.

The telegraph led to the early field telephones that were first employed during WWI. These phones were much more compact, and required no real skill in order to operate and effectively communicate with other elements on the battlefield. This allowed instantaneous communications down to the company and platoon levels while occupying a fixed position, without the need to be in visual contact. These innovations revolutionized warfare and were significant factors in the evolution into the mechanized form of warfare we know today.

In high school I took a class on religious time and space. The content of this course was not meant to teach of the different religions but more to create an exploration of the philosophers that discussed the necessity of spiritual time and space to enhance life. This was something that I thought a bit about when I was doing the readings.

Technology originally through things such as Claude Chappe’s optical telegraph or the Morse code, was supposed to enhance life. The devices increased communication, aided in war and eventually helped keep people in touch.

Now there are things such as text messages, Facebook chatting, many social networking sites, e-mails, etc. These things seem to do the opposite at times; they decrease communication.

Telegraphers that sent messages to enhance communication came up with abbreviations in order to speed up the process of sending and receiving messages. The whole process took time and with abbreviations, more could be communicated. Today text conversations can at times go something like this:

“Sup”

“sup”

“how’s it goin?”

“good, u?”

“same”

“g2g, lots of homework”

“fo sho, ttyl”

These abbreviations decrease communication. Obviously this isn’t the general conversation, but the idea is that these sorts of abbreviations actually simplify the messages rather than speed things up to allow for more communications. Substantial amounts of conversation are turned into three letters. Something such as “n2m”, which stands for “not too much” sounds like an answer one would give his or her parents when they ask what happened in school during angry teenage years. But this answer is not given in this circumstance; it’s given in everyday conversation.

Instant gratification and the ability to speed everything up so much as to fit as much in are actually creating a very meaningless everyday existence. This is why I was reminded of my class in high school. Instead of enjoying every moment of conversation with people who mean something, technology today is being used to speed through everything. Even AT&T or Verizon commercials are shoving this in our faces. How quickly do things load on your phone? Can you go online AND call at the same time? Well now you can! Improving to the electrical telegraph really helped important messages get across. Are the more recent “improvements” helping or hurting us? Is this inevitable?

The invention of the telegraph, to me, was a gateway for all the inventions to come of the century to today.  It was the first form of instantaneous communication.  It was a way of texting in the 1800’s.  Morse created a code that helped simplify the messages that were being sent.  First, it started with a number equals a word and then moved to letter by letter and dots.  From watching one of the videos, I find it interesting that Vail played a large role in the development of the telegraph.  According to the video, Vail used his mind and imagination and was fulfilled with what he was doing but did not receive any credit for his input.  Vail was a man that enjoyed what he was doing and he helped create the gateway for telephone.  From a video, they talked about how the telegraph was the greatest and most influential invention that lead to the telephone.  The electric currents can carry sound and therefore a sound wave was the human voice.  From all of these findings, it is clear that Morse, Vail, Bell created a pathway for generations to create inventions beyond the society’s expectations, such as planes and automobiles.

The telegraph was a way for people to stay connected and receive news, invitations, messages for express trains, etc.  People were able to communicate miles away.  ”The confidence in the efficiency of telegraphic communication has now become so complete, that the most important commercial transactions daily transpire by its means between correspondents several hundreds miles away.  They found it to be “complete”.  Today, people demand more and have a need for more technology that connects them to people around the world.  I feel that email, text messaging, facebook, twitter etc. are today’s telegraph.  They connect people who live thousands of miles away at every second of the day   The telegraph was the simple form of telecommunications.  Think of what today would be like if the telegraph was the only thing around? The world would be a different place.  During the 1800’s people relied on telegraphs just like people today rely on email and text messages.

Ever since humans could communicate we have been trying to find ways to make communication more effective and efficient. Before the telephone or even the telegraph, ideas could only travel as fast as a horse could gallop or a person could run. Because of this, communication was really limited to immediate surroundings or one could wait days for a letter to be hand carried by the postal service. This created a demand for faster means of communicating. According to the text,  “it was the demand for rapid communications that created the telecommunications systems, not the other way around.” From this demand, first came the telegraph, which consisted of a series of wires that eventually covered the continent that words transformed into electrical impulses could travel. These impulses were the dots and dashes of Morse code, which created a slight setback for the everyday users like you and I; every user had to master this complex system of Morse code before they could even get their message across the line. Despite this slight setback, the invention of the telegraph was revolutionary. It allowed for messages to travel at a much faster pace than any person could physically carry it.

A step forward from the telegraph would be the telephone. Invented in the third quarter of the nineteenth century, the telephone allowed people to engage in instant two-way communication without needed to know Morse code or even be literate. Today we take this amazing device for granted when we pick up the phone to call someone in another state and as technology advances, we have more access to even quicker ways of communication- like the Internet for example. Now we can send an email instantly to anyone in the world without even disturbing the person on the other end with a ring. I couldn’t imagine what would come next when it comes to faster and more convenient ways of communicating… but I guess for now, only time can tell.

I added the class video to my blog:

http://khenni.wordpress.com/

I tagged the video and changed the video title in YouTube to make it more searchable.

I also thumbs up-ed the video on stumble upon and created a new review and tagged it so when people stumble in certain categories they will stumble on our video.

It’s difficult for me to imagine a time in which communication was limited by time, space and distance. With the invention of the telegraph, communication suddenly seemed limitless – within 20 years of the first telegraph line, lines were being installed under the ocean, a feat of communication which had never before been achieved. Like the printing press, the telegraph revolutionized the mass media; now not only could news be printed and distributed to readers, it could also be reported across the nation and the world. The telegraph, in its ability to connect people across long distances, was essentially the internet of the Victorian era. Not only were people able to connect socially over a great distance but business was also able to be conducted between states
It is mind blowing to think that less than 200 years ago the telegraph was the best way to communicate over distance. The History Channel deemed the telegraph as the “catalyst of the communication renaissance” that triggered an outburst of technological growth that is still exponentially expanding. Much in the way the telegraph changed the news media, so too has the internet altered our media landscape. Even the way information is transmitted is similar between the telegraph and the internet: the telegraph in dots and dashes, the internet in 0,1 binary code. Though the machinery is different, the impact is also very similar. Transmission of information by telegraph changed many aspects of people’s lives just as we now find ourselves unable to live without the internet. The telegraph was really the start of social networking and as technology has evolved so has our need to be connected to more and more people. At the invention of the telegraph I imagine it was hard for people to believe technology more advanced would come along, but soon came the telephone and within 100 years computers. It is hard to fathom what will replace the internet our mode of connection to the world.