Look, Ma, No Wires! Presentation by Mindy McAdams Tuesday, Week 11

1909: The first transatlantic radio telegraph service began, thanks to the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company (founded by Guglielmo Marconi). 1911: The Titanic set out on its maiden voyage April 10. She struck an iceberg on the night of April 14 at 11:40 p.m. and sank at 2:20 a.m.

What the Titanic Tells Us Before the wireless telegraph, there was virtually no way for a ship at sea to communicate with: Other ships Land The ship that rescued survivors had to come through the ice for two hours before reaching them (it was 58 miles away) On the ship that could have saved them (19 miles away), the wireless was turned off for the night

Before the wireless telegraph, there was virtually no way for a ship at sea to communicate with:

Other ships

Land

The ship that rescued survivors had to come through the ice for two hours before reaching them (it was 58 miles away)

On the ship that could have saved them (19 miles away), the wireless was turned off for the night

A Sense of Connection People around the world (or at least, people in the U.S. and Europe) felt as if they were connected to the Titanic disaster Simultaneous experience across a far distance: This was new Today we say: “In real time” Today we call events “synchronous” or “asynchronous”

People around the world (or at least, people in the U.S. and Europe) felt as if they were connected to the Titanic disaster

Simultaneous experience across a far distance: This was new

Today we say: “In real time”

Today we call events “synchronous” or “asynchronous”

Electric Communication 1837: The electric telegraph (required a wire) 1876: The telephone 1895: The wireless telegraph (the first broadcasting) 1906: Radio brought instant long-distance communication to a mass audience for the first time

1837: The electric telegraph (required a wire)

1876: The telephone

1895: The wireless telegraph (the first broadcasting)

1906: Radio brought instant long-distance communication to a mass audience for the first time

Guglielmo Marconi (1874 – 1937) 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics (shared with Karl Ferdinand Braun, German, b. 1850) His goal: Use radio waves to create a system for sending telegraph signals without wires Marconi’s system sent Morse code He was Italian, but could not drum up interest in Italy Traveled to England (he was only 21) and found support there

1909 Nobel Prize in Physics (shared with Karl Ferdinand Braun, German, b. 1850)

His goal: Use radio waves to create a system for sending telegraph signals without wires

Marconi’s system sent Morse code

He was Italian, but could not drum up interest in Italy

Traveled to England (he was only 21) and found support there

Guglielmo Marconi (2) In March 1897, Marconi transmitted wireless signals across about 4 miles across the Salisbury Plain, England In March 1897, he transmitted wireless signals across the Bristol Channel (8.7 miles) 1899: First wireless demonstrations in the U.S. – they carried reports of the America’s Cup yacht races from New York The Shamrock and the Columbia racing for the America’s Cup, New York Harbor, 1899

In March 1897, Marconi transmitted wireless signals across about 4 miles across the Salisbury Plain, England

In March 1897, he transmitted wireless signals across the Bristol Channel (8.7 miles)

1899: First wireless demonstrations in the U.S. – they carried reports of the America’s Cup yacht races from New York

This is the Marconi wireless telegraph, as it was installed on a yacht, to cover the America’s Cup for the New York Herald newspaper in October 1899 Source: Dalhousie University

Across the Atlantic December 1901: Marconi reportedly received a signal in St. John’s, Newfoundland , sent from one of his stations in Cornwall, England (about 2,100 miles 1907: Regular transatlantic service was announced, but communication was not reliable for many years 1904: Wireless transatlantic news service, from Cornwall to Cape Cod, Mass.

December 1901: Marconi reportedly received a signal in St. John’s, Newfoundland , sent from one of his stations in Cornwall, England (about 2,100 miles

1907: Regular transatlantic service was announced, but communication was not reliable for many years

1904: Wireless transatlantic news service, from Cornwall to Cape Cod, Mass.

First Radio Broadcast (AM) 1906: Reginald Fessenden transmitted it Sent from Brant Rock, Mass. Ships at sea heard it Fessenden played the song Silent Night on a violin and read a passage from the Bible Fessenden had made his first wireless audio transmission in 1900 From Cobb Island, Md., on the Potomac River It was heard about 1 mile away

1906: Reginald Fessenden transmitted it

Sent from Brant Rock, Mass.

Ships at sea heard it

Fessenden played the song Silent Night on a violin and read a passage from the Bible

Fessenden had made his first wireless audio transmission in 1900

From Cobb Island, Md., on the Potomac River

It was heard about 1 mile away

Radio in the 1920s “ Crystal sets” used to pick up radio signals A popular hobby A period, at least in the U.S., similar to the early days of the personal computer Three stages: “ DXing” Music listening Story listening

“ Crystal sets” used to pick up radio signals

A popular hobby

A period, at least in the U.S., similar to the early days of the personal computer

Three stages:

“ DXing”

Music listening

Story listening

Look, Ma, No Wires! Presentation by Mindy McAdams University of Florida