With the advent of the various new forms of technology our generation is familiar with (i.e. the internet, cell phones, GPS systems, the Ipod, etc.), it becomes increasingly difficult to look into the past and recall why certain media advancements were so innovative when they were first introduced to the world. In the same regard, it is also extremely difficult to label one as more important as another considering they have all had a profound effect on our culture as a whole, whether we are aware of it or not. If forced to choose one development that made the greatest impact on our society, the telephone seems to have drastically changed the manner of person to person communication. Before the telephone became commonplace in homes across the country, people’s only choices for contacting anyone outside their own city or town were to either write a letter or to send a short telegram. Both of these methods of communication were one-sided; the sender sent a message and then had to wait for a response. In short, the telephone made interaction possible, where letters and the telegraph only supported reaction.
The invention of the telephone was revolutionary in the sense that it provided a quick and easy method of communication between two people no matter the physical distance between them. Today, with the abundance of cell phones, most people are able to be contacted at almost any time, day or night. Of course, this was not the case when the telephone first was put to use, but as a way of transmitting messages it bested the telegraph because it was someth
ing that potentially anyone could use. There was no need to learn Morse code nor did those making a call need to be literate. (Communication in History, 119) The telephone had greater potential for widespread use within any home provided it was affordable enough. This also set it apart from the telegraph – there was no need to go to a specific location in order to send a message once telephones became commonplace in homes across the country.
Some of the earliest telephone users were doctors, druggists, and businessmen such as manufacturers, lawyers, and bankers. The technology began solely as a business tool that facilitated rapid communication between businessmen and their employees. (Communication in History, 147) Doctors were able to check their messages while at home and thus respond to emergencies in a quick and efficient manner. (Perhaps the origin of the phrase “on call”?) As telephone usage evolved and expanded, rates went down, and more families were able to afford telephones in their homes which made immediate contact between family members across the country possible. Unlike the telegraph, which served the purpose of transmitting coded, detailed information, as our textbook puts it, the telephone was “an immediately interactive medium”. (Communications in History, 119) The telegraph was just not as interactive, and was not a quick as the telephone in relaying messages between two people. Today, the telephone is the most common way most of us keep in contact with the friends and family we are unable to see on a regular basis. For many people it may be the ability to hear someone’s voice over the phone that helps make them seem closer than they actually are. In my opinion, talking on the phone is more personal than writing letters back and forth because you are able to hear the emotion and subtle nuances of speech when hearing someone’s voice even if you are not able to see them.
In the world we live in today, telephones can be put to use for an abundance of purposes. Information such as the weather, the time, business locations, movie times, and more is available by phone. I can call PNC Bank and by punching in a username and password am able to find out my checking account balance. If there is a fire, an accident, or we witness something suspicious going on near our homes, we use the telephone to contact the appropriate authorities who will respond almost immediately to take care of the problem. For reasons such as these, the telephone has been able to survive and remain an important part of daily life for over 100 years. It has expanded our social interactions and made contact possible between anyone instead of just those who are in close proximity to us.
The invention of the telephone was revolutionary in the sense that it provided a quick and easy method of communication between two people no matter the physical distance between them. Today, with the abundance of cell phones, most people are able to be contacted at almost any time, day or night. Of course, this was not the case when the telephone first was put to use, but as a way of transmitting messages it bested the telegraph because it was someth
ing that potentially anyone could use. There was no need to learn Morse code nor did those making a call need to be literate. (Communication in History, 119) The telephone had greater potential for widespread use within any home provided it was affordable enough. This also set it apart from the telegraph – there was no need to go to a specific location in order to send a message once telephones became commonplace in homes across the country.Some of the earliest telephone users were doctors, druggists, and businessmen such as manufacturers, lawyers, and bankers. The technology began solely as a business tool that facilitated rapid communication between businessmen and their employees. (Communication in History, 147) Doctors were able to check their messages while at home and thus respond to emergencies in a quick and efficient manner. (Perhaps the origin of the phrase “on call”?) As telephone usage evolved and expanded, rates went down, and more families were able to afford telephones in their homes which made immediate contact between family members across the country possible. Unlike the telegraph, which served the purpose of transmitting coded, detailed information, as our textbook puts it, the telephone was “an immediately interactive medium”. (Communications in History, 119) The telegraph was just not as interactive, and was not a quick as the telephone in relaying messages between two people. Today, the telephone is the most common way most of us keep in contact with the friends and family we are unable to see on a regular basis. For many people it may be the ability to hear someone’s voice over the phone that helps make them seem closer than they actually are. In my opinion, talking on the phone is more personal than writing letters back and forth because you are able to hear the emotion and subtle nuances of speech when hearing someone’s voice even if you are not able to see them.
In the world we live in today, telephones can be put to use for an abundance of purposes. Information such as the weather, the time, business locations, movie times, and more is available by phone. I can call PNC Bank and by punching in a username and password am able to find out my checking account balance. If there is a fire, an accident, or we witness something suspicious going on near our homes, we use the telephone to contact the appropriate authorities who will respond almost immediately to take care of the problem. For reasons such as these, the telephone has been able to survive and remain an important part of daily life for over 100 years. It has expanded our social interactions and made contact possible between anyone instead of just those who are in close proximity to us.
1 comment:
Hello Wisconsin! Sorry about the late blog. I completely forgot about it =(. Anyway, I think you made a lot of valid points about why the telephone is important. And I also think it was great that you extensively discussed the importance of the telephone in society today, whether its the basic use of keeping in touch with friends, to calling your PNC bank to find out your account balance. The telephone really does connect everyone you know together within hands reach. I also agreed with Wisconsin's comments on how the telephone, unlike the telegraph, allowed every person to adapt their lifestyle with the telephone. Convincing someone (me)the importance of the telephone was accomplished!
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