Communications Technology 11: A Brief History

By mgeorge
  • Sep 10, 1000

    Egyptian Hieroglyphs

    Egyptian Hieroglyphs
    DATE: 3200BC - 400AD
    1. This system of writing contained no vowels, and used only consonants.
    2. Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics could be read from left to right and right to left.
  • Sep 10, 1000

    The Book

    The Book
    DATE: 3,500 BC
    1. Clay tablets were used before books in Mesopotamia in the third millennium BC.
    2. Paper was invented in China around the first century.

  • Newspaper

    Newspaper
    1. The earliest form of a newspaper was the Roman Acta diuma, and was instituted by Julius Caesar.
    2. There are less than 1000 daily newspapers in the U.S.

  • Record Player

    Record Player
    1. The "original" record player was the phonograph, which was invented by Thomas Edison in 1877.
    2. Recording companies stopped producing phonograph records in the early 1990's because of cassette tapes and CD's.

  • Carrier Pigeon

    Carrier Pigeon
    1. Carrier pigeons have been known to fly 700 miles in a day.
    2. Noah's dove was most likely a carrier pidgeon.

  • Radio

    Radio
    1. Radio reaches more than 236 million people whose ages are from 12 and in a weeks time.
    2. News and talk shows are now the #1 most listened to shows in the U.S.

  • Billboard

    Billboard
    1. More people can view one billboard than the Super Bowl.
    2. Outdoor advertising costs less than television, newspapers, and radio ads.

  • Computer

    Computer
    1. Bill Gate's house was designed using an Apple computer.
    2. The internet took 4 years to reach 50 million users.

  • Email

    Email
    1. The first piece of "spam" mail was ent on May 3, 1978.
    2. Pope Joh Paull II was the first Pope to become internet "savvy."

  • Cell Phone

    Cell Phone
    1. The first SMS or "text" message was sent by Neil Papworth in December of 1992 containing the phrase: "Merry Christmas."
    2. The Clam Shell (folding) design cell phone was inspired by Star Trek.

  • DVD

    DVD
    1. DVD's are read by lasers, and they are able to be played an unlimited number of times.
    2. DVD's have a shelf life of over 100 years,

  • iPod

    iPod
    1. Since it's debut in 2001, Apple's iPod has become the world's most popular music player availible today. Nothing since has surpassed it in sales.
    2. On September 1, 2004, the iTunes store hit 125 million downloaded items.