This document outlines the evolution of communication from ancient methods like cave paintings and hieroglyphs to modern technologies such as the internet and cell phones. It highlights significant milestones, including the invention of paper, the telegraph, and the World Wide Web. Additionally, it poses discussion questions regarding the importance and implications of various communication methods in personal and business contexts.

1. Communications
A look back

2. Background
• Communications is the act of conveying
information using exchange of thoughts,
messages or information, using speech,
visuals, signals, writing or behavior.
• This presentation traces communications
from the past to about 2000. Our class will
take it from there.

3. Cave paintings
• Prior to about 3500 BC

4. Hieroglyphic writing
• Around 3500 BC
• Egyptians and Sumerians

5. On foot
• 490 BC, Phidippides ran from Marathon to Athens to
warm the Athenians of the approaching Persian army.
Apparently, he died from the strain.
• Foot would remain important for communication, using
horses during Roman times (14AD), Kublai Khan times
(1280 AD) and our Pony Express (1861 AD)

6. Metal mirrors & the Sun
• Around 26-37 AD, Roman Emperor
Tiberius rules empire by signaling with
polished metal to reflect the sun.

7. Paper!
• In 751, Paper is introduced, using wood
pulp.
• In 1844, Charles Fenerty produces paper
from wood pulp.

8. Printing
• 1305 Chinese develop wooden block
movable type printing
• 1450 Johannes Gutenberg creates metal
moveable type printing press

9. Telegraph from tower to electric
• 1792 Claude Chappe establishes first long distance
semaphore telegraph line (uses towers to send
visual signals)
• 1831 Joseph Henry builds electric telegraph

10. Morse code and long distance
• 1835 Samuel Morse develops Morse Code
• 1843 Morse builds long distance electric
telegraph

11. Electric telephone
• 1876 Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas
Watson create electric telephone line

12. Phonograph
• 1877 Thomas Edison patents phonograph

13. Radio signals for communication
• 1901 Guglielmo Marconi transmits radio
signals

14. First television signal
• 1925 John Logie Baird transmits first
television signal. During World War 2, he
developed the first color picture tube.

15. Beginning of cell phone technology
• 1947 Douglas H. Ring and W. Rae Young
of Bell Labs proposed a cell based approach
to technology which would lead to cell
phones.

16. First copying machine
• 1958 Chester Carlson presents first
photocopier suitable for office use

17. Internet ancestors
• 1969 First hosts of ARPANET (Internet
ancestors) are connected

18. WWW (World Wide Web)
• 1989 Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailiau
build prototype for World Wide Web at
CERN

19. First Text Message
• 1992 Neil Papworth sends first SMS (or text
message)

20. Digital Satellite
• 2001 first digital cinema transmission by
satellite

21. Communication Technology today:
• Websites
• Blogs
• Email
• Discussion groups
• Chat
• Instant messaging
• SMS (Text messaging)
• Social networks
• Tweeting
• Video conferencing
• Voice messaging

22. Discussion questions
• Which type of communication mentioned
do you feel is the most important for
personal use? Business use?
• What are some of the advantages of the
increasing types of communication
available?
• What are some disadvantages of these
options?