The Telegraph
Basics
- Name of the Technology: Telegraph
- Type of Technology: Communication
- Date of Invention/Development: 1837
- Inventor/Developer: Samuel Morse, Alfred Vail
- Country of Origin: United States
- Key Components: Telegraph key, Telegraph receiver, Wire circuit
- Purpose/Use: Long-distance communication
- Related Technologies: Telephone, Fax, Internet
Snapshot
Envision a mid-19th century newsroom. The room is alive with the steady, rhythmic tap-tap-tap of a telegraph machine as operators diligently transcribe Morse code. A single wire stretches from this tiny device, connecting it to countless other machines across the continent, and even across the ocean. Each tap and pause communicates a letter, a word, a sentence - news of wars, discoveries, and human triumphs, all travelling at previously unimaginable speeds.
Background
The telegraph's origins lay in the growing need for faster communication during the 19th century. In a rapidly industrializing world, the limitations of postal services became increasingly apparent. Samuel Morse, a professor of arts and design at New York University, along with his assistant Alfred Vail, were instrumental in developing the telegraph system and Morse code, the language used for communication via telegraph. The first telegraph message - "What hath God wrought!" - was sent on May 24, 1844.
Function & Operation
A telegraph system functions based on simple electrical principles. The key component is a circuit of electrical wire connecting two devices: a sender and a receiver. The sender, or telegraph key, is a switch that completes or breaks the circuit. When the switch is down, electrical current flows through the circuit. This is registered on the receiver as a 'dot' or 'dash' depending on the duration of the flow. By creating a series of these dots and dashes (Morse code), operators could send complex messages across great distances instantaneously.
Applications
The telegraph revolutionized many industries. For the military, it provided a means for rapid communication of strategy and intelligence. It reshaped the world of journalism, enabling near-real-time reporting of events from across the world. It allowed for faster trading of stocks and commodities, transforming the financial sector. Railways, too, found telegraphs indispensable for coordinating train schedules and preventing accidents.
Impact
The telegraph transformed society in countless ways. It annihilated the concept of distance, providing people the ability to communicate swiftly over long distances, and thereby fostering a sense of a global community. Economically, it facilitated faster transactions and decision-making, accelerating the pace of commerce. It also had significant geopolitical impacts, enabling faster diplomatic communication and coordination in times of conflict.
Future Developments
While the telegraph has largely been superseded by more modern communication technologies like telephones, cell phones, and the internet, it laid the foundation for all these subsequent advancements. Current research trends focus on the role of telegraphy in historical contexts, particularly in the development of modern communication theory.
Appearances
The telegraph has been featured in numerous works of fiction, often used to convey the atmosphere of the 19th century. Notable appearances include in films like "The Great Train Robbery" (1903) and books such as Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1872).
Related
- --> Image Gallery
- --> Related Entries: Morse Code, History of Communication, Samuel Morse, Alfred Vail
Notes
- Despite its obsolescence in most parts of the world, the telegraph remained in use in some areas of India until 2013.
References
- Standage, Tom. The Victorian Internet: The Remarkable Story of the Telegraph and the Nineteenth Century's On-line Pioneers. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998.
- Hochfelder, David. The Telegraph in America, 1832–1920. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012.
