10 Communication Inventions that Changed the World for ever

by Anna Maria Tsioliby Anna Maria Tsioli

WritingWriting

The initial written form of The initial written form of communication was a pictograph. communication was a pictograph. Each picture represented different Each picture represented different actions and objects. The earliest actions and objects. The earliest forms of these picture words were in forms of these picture words were in 3500 B.C. in an area of the world 3500 B.C. in an area of the world called Sumeria, that is now Iraq. called Sumeria, that is now Iraq.

A Sumarian clay tablet 3500 B.C.A Sumarian clay tablet 3500 B.C.

The Egyptians came up with The Egyptians came up with hieroglyphics, which was hieroglyphics, which was

developed a few hundred years developed a few hundred years later.later.

The Chinese used The Chinese used pictographs around 2000 to pictographs around 2000 to

1500 B.C.1500 B.C. Written communication in the form of an Written communication in the form of an alphabet had a foundation of symbols relating alphabet had a foundation of symbols relating to sounds and not signs. The Phoenicians to sounds and not signs. The Phoenicians established an alphabet around 800 B.C. The established an alphabet around 800 B.C. The Romans much later took the Greek alphabet Romans much later took the Greek alphabet and translated it into 26 letters. An alphabet and translated it into 26 letters. An alphabet was far more efficient than the old system of was far more efficient than the old system of pictographs. A simple sentence might require pictographs. A simple sentence might require less than 50 letters and punctuation marks less than 50 letters and punctuation marks using an alphabet. In comparison, that same using an alphabet. In comparison, that same sentence would use about 9,000 pictures to sentence would use about 9,000 pictures to say the same thing. say the same thing.

PaperPaperThe invention of paper was necessary once a form of The invention of paper was necessary once a form of written communication was invented. Paper was the written communication was invented. Paper was the surface that made written communication surface that made written communication manageable.manageable.At first, clay tablets were used for written At first, clay tablets were used for written communications but they were bulky and difficult to communications but they were bulky and difficult to transport. The Egyptians came up with a woven transport. The Egyptians came up with a woven surface from the papyrus plant and painted surface from the papyrus plant and painted hieroglyphics on this paper. The Greeks used a hieroglyphics on this paper. The Greeks used a parchment from animal hides. But it was the Chinese parchment from animal hides. But it was the Chinese who invented the standard writing surface of paper who invented the standard writing surface of paper that is still used today. While the Chinese were using that is still used today. While the Chinese were using paper around 100 B.C., it was not used widely in paper around 100 B.C., it was not used widely in Europe for another thousand years.Europe for another thousand years.

The world’s oldest book The world’s oldest book from China, 868from China, 868

The invention of paper allowed The invention of paper allowed

those who could read and writethose who could read and write to to attain wealth and social status. It attain wealth and social status. It also made tax collecting also made tax collecting and record keeping easier. and record keeping easier. Another way that the invention of Another way that the invention of paper had a profound influence on paper had a profound influence on society was that history and society was that history and journals could be written for journals could be written for future generations to read. future generations to read. Finally, the laws of the land could Finally, the laws of the land could be recorded and developed on be recorded and developed on paper thereby establishing a paper thereby establishing a

posted code of civil conduct.posted code of civil conduct.

PrintPrint

The invention of printing satisfied the The invention of printing satisfied the huge demand for books. After the huge demand for books. After the invention of paper, there was a invention of paper, there was a tremendous demand for books to be tremendous demand for books to be written. But all books had to be written written. But all books had to be written by hand and this was tremendously by hand and this was tremendously time consuming and expensive. If you time consuming and expensive. If you wanted to write a book you had to hire wanted to write a book you had to hire a scribe to write it and it was costly. a scribe to write it and it was costly.

The Chinese developed a block The Chinese developed a block printing system in 868 and then a kind printing system in 868 and then a kind of movable type made of clay and then of movable type made of clay and then

wood. The Koreans even had a wood. The Koreans even had a

movable type in the 15th century.movable type in the 15th century.

But it was in Germany where Johann But it was in Germany where Johann Gutenberg developed the printing press Gutenberg developed the printing press that utilized movable type and allowed that utilized movable type and allowed the Bible to be printed about 1453. This the Bible to be printed about 1453. This printing method spread throughout the printing method spread throughout the continent of Europe. Suddenly books continent of Europe. Suddenly books were being printed, although the rich were being printed, although the rich were the only people who could afford were the only people who could afford them. The newspaper was officially them. The newspaper was officially created as the primary source of news created as the primary source of news for the masses. for the masses.

Gutenberg Printing Press, 1453

The printing press led to a revolution of items that were invented or reinforced. These items were religion, scientific research, journals of exploration by explorers, knowledge and study and what we know today as news reporting.

TelegraphTelegraph

It is impossible for those of us today to It is impossible for those of us today to imagine life without our cell phones, but imagine life without our cell phones, but before cell phones were invented there before cell phones were invented there was another huge milestone in the was another huge milestone in the invention of the telegraph invention of the telegraph

The telegraph was the fastest form of The telegraph was the fastest form of communication at that time and seen as communication at that time and seen as remarkable. It could travel with a message remarkable. It could travel with a message at the speed of light. Samuel Morse was at the speed of light. Samuel Morse was one developer of the telegraph and his one developer of the telegraph and his “Morse code” of dots and dashes is still “Morse code” of dots and dashes is still used today. used today.

Morse’s Telegraph

The telegraph was called “the great The telegraph was called “the great annihilator of time and space” in that it annihilator of time and space” in that it changed society itself through changed society itself through transportation in the railroads, the way transportation in the railroads, the way war was conducted, the speed of war was conducted, the speed of communication between buyers and communication between buyers and sellers and trans-Atlantic communication.sellers and trans-Atlantic communication.Most of all, the telegraph was pivotal in Most of all, the telegraph was pivotal in the formation of news services and the formation of news services and agencies.agencies.

The invention of the camera was first The invention of the camera was first evident in the photographs taken during evident in the photographs taken during the Civil War. Suddenly war was a horror the Civil War. Suddenly war was a horror in the visual sense that was never in the visual sense that was never understood even in the most graphic understood even in the most graphic written descriptions. Photojournalism written descriptions. Photojournalism where “a picture says a thousand words” where “a picture says a thousand words” became popular as a picture could be became popular as a picture could be internalized faster than the written internalized faster than the written words. For the first time historical words. For the first time historical information could now be journalized in information could now be journalized in pictures and images. pictures and images.

Civil War Photo, 1862 – Bull Run area

CinemaCinema

The technology of the camera led to The technology of the camera led to moving pictures and the moving pictures and the video capabilities that we have today video capabilities that we have today movie theaters and “nickelodeons” movie theaters and “nickelodeons” became big hits. By 1910, there were became big hits. By 1910, there were more than 10,000 such movie houses in more than 10,000 such movie houses in America. Soon filmmakers began to see America. Soon filmmakers began to see the power in producing films and the the power in producing films and the potential for a huge businesspotential for a huge business

A Nickelodeon Movie Theater in Canada, 1910

The RadioThe Radio

Advances in wire telephony and Advances in wire telephony and the consequences of the war the consequences of the war allowed radio to be brought into allowed radio to be brought into many homes worldwide. The radio many homes worldwide. The radio was a source of entertainment as was a source of entertainment as well as news for a multitude of well as news for a multitude of families. The radio became the families. The radio became the major communication source for major communication source for people to receive their news. people to receive their news.

TelevisionTelevision

Once again the technological advancements of Once again the technological advancements of war paved the way for television in the 1950’s. war paved the way for television in the 1950’s. The television in the 1950’s and 1960’s was the The television in the 1950’s and 1960’s was the most wanted appliance. About 10 million most wanted appliance. About 10 million Americans had a television set in the 1950’s. It Americans had a television set in the 1950’s. It soon became a huge consumer of time. People soon became a huge consumer of time. People watched their news each evening as well as watched their news each evening as well as their various television shows. The their various television shows. The entertainment industry now branched off from entertainment industry now branched off from films into television. Television became a films into television. Television became a massive form of communication and generated massive form of communication and generated social changes. We watched the Vietnam War social changes. We watched the Vietnam War and the assassination of John F. Kennedy on our and the assassination of John F. Kennedy on our televisions. televisions.

The Computer and InternetThe Computer and Internet

The digital revolution allowed computers to instantly relay The digital revolution allowed computers to instantly relay information to all parts of the world. In the blink of an eye, information to all parts of the world. In the blink of an eye, through computers and the Internet mass communications through computers and the Internet mass communications was changed forever by bringing the people of the world was changed forever by bringing the people of the world together.together.Newspapers and magazines are now online, as well as on Newspapers and magazines are now online, as well as on paper. Music-sharing sites are online for distribution both paper. Music-sharing sites are online for distribution both legally and illegally. Businesses can be anywhere whether in legally and illegally. Businesses can be anywhere whether in a downtown office or in a bedroom. You can buy and sell a downtown office or in a bedroom. You can buy and sell anything online. You can pay your bills and do your banking anything online. You can pay your bills and do your banking online. You can meet people in chat areas and have online online. You can meet people in chat areas and have online relationships. Everyone has a website and politics has relationships. Everyone has a website and politics has invaded the Internet as well. In 2004 in the United States, invaded the Internet as well. In 2004 in the United States, 1 dollar of every 8 dollars was spent online. Emailing is now 1 dollar of every 8 dollars was spent online. Emailing is now more popular than “snail mail.”more popular than “snail mail.”

Radio Shack home computer, 1970

Wireless TechnologyWireless Technology

Wireless portable media has overtaken Wireless portable media has overtaken our society in the presence of wireless our society in the presence of wireless laptops, cell phones and PDAs laptops, cell phones and PDAs Everywhere we look in public places we Everywhere we look in public places we see the huge impact of our wireless see the huge impact of our wireless connections. It is difficult to remember connections. It is difficult to remember life without a cell phone or a wireless life without a cell phone or a wireless connection. I often wish I had stock in a connection. I often wish I had stock in a cell phone company as I scan my own cell phone company as I scan my own monthly bill. But with the speed of monthly bill. But with the speed of technology everything we buy today will technology everything we buy today will only be more advanced tomorrow. only be more advanced tomorrow. Technology quickly becomes obsolete as Technology quickly becomes obsolete as something new is introduced.!something new is introduced.!

The world was never the same again!