A shrinking world: communications
Over time, there have been dramatic improvements in communications and, therefore,
in the quantity and quality of flows of information. These improvements, along with
improvements in transport, have helped to bring about the changes that we associate
with globalisation.
Read the various statements below then cut them out and put them in the correct order
to illustrate how communications have changed over time (from 1791 to 1991).
The first Intelsat commercial
communications satellite is launched
into space.
The worldwide web is launched.
The first radio transmission across the
English Channel is made.
A satellite communications station
opens at Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall.
Alexander Graham Bell has the first
long-distance telephone conversation
(about 16 km).
The first television image is
successfully transmitted.
The first personal computer (PC) is
built.
Telephone cables are laid across
Europe and the USA.
Inmarsat, the oldest satellite phone
operator, is founded.
The STD (standard telephone dialling)
service is introduced in the UK,
allowing users to make long-distance
calls without the need for a telephone
operator.
The first transatlantic telephone cable
is laid.
Claude Chappe invents the first
telegraph, sending messages between
Paris and Lille.
L.M. Ericsson introduces a telephone
handset which combines the
transmitter and receiver in a single
unit.
Mobile telephones are introduced.
The first hand-held mobile phone
(approximately 1 kg in weight) is
demonstrated.
The first email is sent from one
computer to another computer next to
it in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Guglielmo Marconi sends the first
wireless message.

Microsoft introduces Windows 1.0
software.
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A shrinking world: communications
Answers:
1792
Claude Chappe invents the first telegraph, sending messages between Paris and Lille.
1876
Alexander Graham Bell has the first long-distance telephone conversation (about 16
km).
1861
Telephone cables are laid across Europe and the USA.
1884
L.M. Ericsson introduces a telephone handset which combines the transmitter and
receiver in a single unit.
1894
Guglielmo Marconi sends the first wireless message.
1899
The first radio transmission across the English Channel is made.
1925
The first television image is successfully transmitted.
1958
The STD (standard telephone dialling) service is introduced in the UK, allowing users
to make long-distance calls without the need for a telephone operator.
1962
A satellite communications station opens at Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall.
1965
The first Intelsat commercial communications satellite is launched into space.
1956
The first transatlantic telephone cable is laid (1955-56) between Scotland and
Newfoundland.
1971
The first email is sent from one computer to another computer next to it in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
1979
Inmarsat, the oldest satellite phone operator, is founded.
1973
Mobile telephones are introduced. The first hand-held mobile phone (approximately
1 kg in weight) is demonstrated. The first commercially available mobile telephone
is produced in 1983.
1981
The first personal computer (PC) is built. The PC is equipped with 16 kilobytes of
memory, expandable to 256 kilobytes. It has one or two 160 kilobyte floppy disk
drives and an optional colour monitor.
1985
Microsoft introduces Windows 1.0 software.
1991
The worldwide web is launched.
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A shrinking world: communications
Extension task
Now, consider how communications have advanced since 1991.

How do you communicate with your friends?

How do businesses exchange information today?

What impact has the development of communications had on the way
people work?
Teacher notes
There is the potential for heated debate as to some of the dates quoted in the
answers! For example, the website, http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml has
an interesting illustrated answer to the question of ‘What was the first personal
computer?’ which may surprise you. However, in many respects it is the order
rather than precise dates which is important.
Sources

http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/images/1/17/Dilhac.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_telephone

http://www.britishtelephones.com/histuk.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_telephone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_communications_cable

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guglielmo_Marconi

http://www.telephonetribute.com/timeline.html

http://www.cclab.com/billhist.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_phone

http://inventors.about.com/od/computersandinternet/a/Ibm-Pc.htm

http://www.ericssonhistory.com
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