Telegraph - Development, Use, and Death - Essay Example

The Telegraph, Its Development, Use and Death Name: Institution: 2nd May, 2013. Introduction A telegraph is a type of device that transmits coded text messages from human to human via communication lines or radio. It was one of the first few communication technologies that were developed in the industrial age. The immediate predecessors of the telegraph included the homing pigeons, railroads, visual networks, and the Pony Express. Because the telegraph was fast in transmitting information over very long distances, it facilitated the development of the railroads, reduced information costs between and within firms, and consolidated money and commodity markets. This particular essay focuses on the telegraph industry, its development, through its use all the way to its demise from the communication industry. The telegraph was considered the first form of communication that could be used to send information over a great distance and was considered to be a landmark in the human history. For the first time in human history man could be able to communicate with one another over long distances and this changed how everything was run, from how wars were fought to how relationships, dating and issues of falling in love were handled. The creation of the telegraph along with the steam engine was one of the major inventions of the industrial era. Letters that were written took several hours, days, and at times even months to arrive at their intended destination and this made most of the information irrelevant. However, with the advent or the invention of the telegraph, messages were able to be transmitted instantaneously, and as time went by, it became more efficient. Finally it (the telegraph) was able to relay more complicated information or messages further and further till it was able to connect individuals from around the world by just pressing some few buttons. Based on the above introduction, it is therefore imperative to reiterate that this essay seeks to outline and explain how the telegraph developed from simple technology to a more sophisticated product, how it was used and its final demise from the communication technology sector. In each section of the essay, that is the development, use and demise, an account or explanation for possible reasons why it happened so is explained in form of the effects or contribution of the society in each of the aspects herein discussed. It is important to note that however much the use of telegraph went low to the extent of almost being extinct, it has not completely become useless. The Development of the Telegraph Samuel Soemmering, in 1809, invented the first electrical telegraph in which he used gold wires in water that could send messages around and about two thousand feet (2000ft) away. This information could be read by determining how much gas was released during the process of the relay (Barton 2010). Even though this method of communication looked very crude, it was a major improvement on the earlier methods of telegraphy. Making reference to the Greek context, the word telegraph could be broken into two words: tele and graheintele which means far and to write respectively and as such, telegraphy has a general meaning of a written message sent from a distance or a far (Mary 2003). The simplest form of telegraphy that were optical in nature included smoke and light beacons, and although they were good enough for relaying information or simple messages they were very much reliant on weather conditions. Making reference back to 1792 all through to 1846 Napoleon Bonaparte made use of the semaphore network, which was earlier invented by Chappe Claude. This type of telegraphy could be used to send more complicated messages than smoke or very light messages, as well as not being able to expend fuel. Although this type was more efficient, it still made a lot of reliance on very good weather. The network that Chappe used (semaphore network) required that towers of operation be strategically placed every 20 miles and could relay at a rate of two words per minute (Barton 2010). This network became very expensive due to the overall number of towers that were to be established. Because of the creation and operational expenses of these towers, the technology was never placed into serious commercial use. The first electrical telegraph machine therefore did not come into use by the public until about April 9, in 1989 when Sir William Fothergill Cooke’s invention started being used in the Great Western Railway in the Great Britain. This particular invention ran for thirteen miles, all the way from Paddington station to the west of Drayton (West Drayton). Cooke in conjunction with John Lewis Ricardo developed the Electric Telegraph Company in 1846. This became the world’s first telegraph company which lasted long enough to 1855 when it came up with the International Telegraph Company to later become the Electric and International Telegraph Company (Mary 2003). Later on in about 1868 this company was bought by the British General Post Office. The 1st ever fax machine, similarly known as the facsimile machine, was brought into existence by a Scottish scientist inventor by name Alexander Bain in the year 1843 (Warc Database 2011). This special fax machine at this time was able to send images through wires, which is quite similar to the way fax machines are still used to date. Samuel F.B from America together with his assistant known as Alfred Vail, 1837, developed the Morse code which was able to send signals in Morse that were then translated into alphabetic letters (NearField Communication n.d). The first transatlantic telegraph cables were brought to completion in July 18, 1886. Initially, there were three attempts which all ended in a failure in the years 1857, 1858, and 1865(Barton 2010; Mary 2003; Fletcher 2010). Later in the years about 1870 Britain and India were able to be connected, which was then followed shortly by Australia being able to be connected to the main land. This achievement enabled Australia to receive news from the whole universe almost at an instant for the first time ever. This information included the news paper from Oxford University Press. Thomas Edison, in 1870, developed the first complete duplex two-way telegraph. This had an advantage of facilitating simultaneous communications, unlike the previous technologies that only supported one individual communicating at a time. These devices were one way radios but the invention of Edison brought forth a revolutionized form of communication thus creating the phonograph (Mary 2003). The Society and Development of the Telegram System From the sentiments raised in the above paragraph, it is evident that technology did not develop until the society accepted to use it. The society acts as a driving force that brought about development of media forms. The change from low technology telegraphs to hi-tech telegraphs that finally ended with the use of telephones and computer internet for communication is a product of a play-off between social necessity and suppression. The law that is still unwritten through which new technologies are set up in the society only insofar as their disruptive prospective capacity is limited (Winston 1998). The Use of the Telegram In the old days, the telegraph system was often used for communication or rather specifically sending coded messages or texts but with the advancements that encompassed its use in the last stages before its demise, the invention by Edward had an additional advantage of allowing dual communication and sending of images (Sosale 2010). This indicates that its use had shifted from merely sending messages to sharing images (Hayes 2008). Whenever images meant for the newspaper were to be sent to and from the remote environments or local places, then telegrams were to be used. The coded image was relayed over the telegram which would then be printed on the other end where the recipient is on a telegraph (Hayes 2008). Similarly, in the old form of communication and since computers and printers were not then in existence, they were used to press legal reasons, used in cases of emergency, issuing political statements, and communication of personal messages. For instance, cancellation of contracts in business is one common reason for the use of telegrams (Cryle 2010). The notifications that are given via telegrams are difficult to refute in a court of law and as such a very vital communication tool of today’s society. FCC regulations recognize such notifications as federally licensed means of communication. In addition, because telegrams have dates, time and stamps, they can be used in protecting intellectual property as the details are indications and proof for copyright purposes. As such, telegrams can be used as legal documentations. Further, it can be noted that telegrams can often serve when it comes to relaying information considered agent to someone in an international context or even one in the wilderness or a locale without regular phone service, mail service, or even worse the internet. As such it is an effective tool of communication. Other services that are still currently used in the telegram system include wire transfers, bill payments and many others. The Society and how it affected the Use of Telegraph Technology Similarly on the use of telegraph depended so much on the societal desires (Winston 1998). As the demands of the society shifted from communicating simple messages to more complex messages that required more confiscated technology, then they opted to use telegraph types that satisfied their desires. Therefore, with increased demand for satisfaction, electric telegraph that had the features that met these expectations was used more (Winston 1998). The Demise of Telegraph In 1876 Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone and this marked the end of the telegraph’s reign over communication. This indicates that from 1880 all the way up to the end of this century, the telegraph remained as the main and more imperative mode of communication. Looking at the world in 1902, the whole world was already connected by telegraphs, both by the Atlantic and the Pacific circumventing the earth (planet). With the general creation of the telephone and the invention of the internet, telegrams experienced a study that indicated a decline from about 211,971,000 messages that were handled in the year 1870 to about 69,679,000 messages that were received and sent in 1920. Since this time with the advent or the development of the telephone together with the internet, the telegraph had been rendered almost useless and/or useless, and in most cases sent as a novelty or uniqueness rather than a normal message. The table below indicates the trend of messages handled over the period when telegraphs reigned in the communication industry. Date Messages Handled Date Messages Handled 1870 9,158,000 1930 211,971,000 1880 29,216,000 1940 191,645,000 1890 55,879,000 1945 236,169,000 1900 63,168,000 1950 178,904,000 1910 75,135,000 1960 124,319,000 1920 155,884,000 1970 69,679,000 Messages Handled by the Telegraph Network: 1870-1970 For most of the messages that were being sent at this time to be relayed over long distances there had to be a much more complex and very lengthy system of wires. In order for the telegraph lines to be constructed, surveyors had to go an extra mile away from their office works and make a decision of what best route could be used for the telegraph line taking into consideration people’s homes and proximity or distance to the telegraph service. In order to do this accurately, there was need for engineers to oversee the whole surveillance process. Once the correct and direct routes had been established in line with the preset requirements, posts were to be placed about 200 ft apart or from one another. Galvanized (coated with zinc) wire was then to be used and strung across all the poles that were laid. A mile of wire could weigh about 3375 kilograms. Most of the poles had to be charred in order to reduce the decay that would have or would take place (Fletcher 2010). In line with the above mentioned sentiments, it is quite on point to note that the Industrial Revolution process is considered by some individuals to be the pivotal point in the history of a human being that paved way for the westernised society. Most aspects of the industrial revolution relied on enhanced speed and efficiency of businesses in the market, which must have contributed to the development of the two technologies namely; railroad and the telegram (Winston 1998). These two inventions at their time went hand in hand in togetherness. The railroads required a way of coordinating human beings with each other and the telegram was, in all its aspects, there to provide this function that was much needed. Although both of the above mentioned inventions and their era have come to existence and gone, the impacts that they created still remain. The revolution that was set up partly by the development of the telegram, led to the world powers that are today celebrated. Similarly, telegrams created tensions between countries that later led to the development of the world war. The world war challenges created a universe that mostly depended on oil which to date is still a major issue (Hayes 2011). The above mentioned detail makes reference to the fact that the telegram system enjoyed a very long, lengthy background as Morse code and the telegrams continued to be used much in the 1960s. Most of the things changed for the use of this system when the military personnel, during war, started exploring the use of what was to be later known as the Internet and mail systems (Barton 2010). The first commonly known internet system was the ARPANET that was developed in 1965 and by about 2000; the reality of communication instantaneously over the internet had become a reality. Around the year 1971, the first few emails were developed and sent between two computers that were operating on different networks. This was an indication that on one particular day, the e-mail could be employed to send and transmit information universally or on an international scale. Because of the advancements that took place on the internet and e-mail system, the telegraph that was majorly used in this era failed to remain relevant. In July 12, 1999, the last commercial U.S. ship shored a telegram message to President Bill Clinton. This particular special date marked the end of the rise of the telegram system and ushered in a new era and wave of using internet and telephones for communications. How the Society led to the Demise of the Telegraph Technology The demise of the telegraph from continuous use of the communication department is also affiliated with the suppression of use that came from the society (Winston 1998). Because interest shifted from the need to communicate simple texts to sharing images and news, the society felt much more comfortable to use a media technology that could send images within the shortest time possible which the telegraph could not, thus the introduction of telephones, and the internet that could also aid in surveillance and research and the untimely demise of the telegraph came about (Winston 1998). Conclusion In relation to the above mentioned sentiments, it is evident that the telegram and the telegraph system is not quite dead but is to a smaller extent still in use in certain scenarios. As such, the word ‘dead communication’ technology is applicable to the current subject of contemplation because the use of the technology has greatly gone down and in many cases just used as part of an invention that had already taken place or just a formality. The use of the internet and the telephone which continuously get complicated and diverse would finally totally replace the telegram making it an extinct mode of communication. The use of the telegraph system in the current or today’s running of business affairs is evident in the services that are offered by the American Telegram and the Western Union Telegram amongst others. References Barton, R 2010, 'NEW MEDIA', Media History, 16, 4, pp. 379-406, Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 2nd May, 2013. Barton, R 2010, 'NEW MEDIA', Media History, 16, 4, pp. 379-406, Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 2 May 2013. Cryle, D 2010, ''Reciprocal and Universal': Robert Donald, The Press Union and Empire Wireless 1920-1933', Historical Journal Of Film, Radio & Television, 30, 3, pp. 357 376, Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 2 May 2013. Fletcher, P 2010, ‘Global Communication: Telecommunication and Global Flows of Information in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century’, Historical Social Research Vol. 35, No. 1, p. 131, Retrieved 2nd May, 2013 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20762430 Hayes, J 2008, 'HISTORY OF COMMUNICATIONS', IEEE Communications Magazine, 46, 9, pp. 42-48, Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 2 May 2013. Mary, B 2003, ‘The History of the Electric Telegraph and Telegraphy’, viewed 2 May, 2013, http://inventors.about.com/od/tstartinventions/a/telegraph.htm Near Field Communication, ‘The History of the Telegraph - Communication at its Best!’, viewed 2 May, 2013, http://www.nearfieldcommunicationnfc.net/nfc-telegraph history.html Sosale, S 2010, 'ICTs past: The telegraph in India', Media Development, 57, 3, pp. 54-58, Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 2 May 2013. Warc Database 2011, ‘Telephone and Telegraph Apparatus’, Gale American Industry Overviews: 2011, viewed 2 May 2013. Winston, B 1998, Media Technology and Society: A History From the Telegraph to the Internet, Rout ledge, London. Read More

Making reference to the Greek context, the word telegraph could be broken into two words: tele and graheintele which means far and to write respectively and as such, telegraphy has a general meaning of a written message sent from a distance or a far (Mary 2003). The simplest form of telegraphy that were optical in nature included smoke and light beacons, and although they were good enough for relaying information or simple messages they were very much reliant on weather conditions. Making reference back to 1792 all through to 1846 Napoleon Bonaparte made use of the semaphore network, which was earlier invented by Chappe Claude.

This type of telegraphy could be used to send more complicated messages than smoke or very light messages, as well as not being able to expend fuel. Although this type was more efficient, it still made a lot of reliance on very good weather. The network that Chappe used (semaphore network) required that towers of operation be strategically placed every 20 miles and could relay at a rate of two words per minute (Barton 2010). This network became very expensive due to the overall number of towers that were to be established.

Because of the creation and operational expenses of these towers, the technology was never placed into serious commercial use. The first electrical telegraph machine therefore did not come into use by the public until about April 9, in 1989 when Sir William Fothergill Cooke’s invention started being used in the Great Western Railway in the Great Britain. This particular invention ran for thirteen miles, all the way from Paddington station to the west of Drayton (West Drayton). Cooke in conjunction with John Lewis Ricardo developed the Electric Telegraph Company in 1846.

This became the world’s first telegraph company which lasted long enough to 1855 when it came up with the International Telegraph Company to later become the Electric and International Telegraph Company (Mary 2003). Later on in about 1868 this company was bought by the British General Post Office. The 1st ever fax machine, similarly known as the facsimile machine, was brought into existence by a Scottish scientist inventor by name Alexander Bain in the year 1843 (Warc Database 2011). This special fax machine at this time was able to send images through wires, which is quite similar to the way fax machines are still used to date. Samuel F.B from America together with his assistant known as Alfred Vail, 1837, developed the Morse code which was able to send signals in Morse that were then translated into alphabetic letters (NearField Communication n.d). The first transatlantic telegraph cables were brought to completion in July 18, 1886.

Initially, there were three attempts which all ended in a failure in the years 1857, 1858, and 1865(Barton 2010; Mary 2003; Fletcher 2010). Later in the years about 1870 Britain and India were able to be connected, which was then followed shortly by Australia being able to be connected to the main land. This achievement enabled Australia to receive news from the whole universe almost at an instant for the first time ever. This information included the news paper from Oxford University Press. Thomas Edison, in 1870, developed the first complete duplex two-way telegraph.

This had an advantage of facilitating simultaneous communications, unlike the previous technologies that only supported one individual communicating at a time. These devices were one way radios but the invention of Edison brought forth a revolutionized form of communication thus creating the phonograph (Mary 2003). The Society and Development of the Telegram System From the sentiments raised in the above paragraph, it is evident that technology did not develop until the society accepted to use it.

The society acts as a driving force that brought about development of media forms. The change from low technology telegraphs to hi-tech telegraphs that finally ended with the use of telephones and computer internet for communication is a product of a play-off between social necessity and suppression.

Read More