From smoke signals and horns to smartphones, communication methods have evolved tremendously over time. Early forms of communication included using smoke signals, horns, and trained pigeons to send messages. Semaphore tools and signal lamps also allowed for coded messages using lights. The telegraph, telephone, radio, television, and internet have all revolutionized long-distance communication, making it faster and more accessible. Today, wireless communication through mobile phones, email, social media, and apps allows people all over the world to connect instantly.

1. THE EVOLUTION OF
COMMUNICATION
From Smoke Signals to Smartphones

2. SOME OF THE FIRST FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
WERE FIRES, SMOKE SIGNALS, AND HORNS.
Smoke signals communicated location, while horns told
the time and when events were taking place in
prehistoric times.

3. INTHE5THCENTURY,LETTERSANDDOCUMENTSCOULD
BESENTBYUSINGPIGEONS’HOMINGABILITIES.
Pigeons were trained by being removed from their
homes and taken to a destination, from which they
would returned home.

4. SEMAPHORETOOLS
In the 4th and 15th centuries involved filling or draining
containers with water to leave a coded message that
was determined by the height of the water.

5. SIGNAL LAMPS USED LIGHT TO COMMUNICATE
VIA MORSE CODE BEGINNING IN 1867.

6. NEWSPAPERS
Still used today, newspapers were often used starting in
the 1800s to provide mass communication, rather than
one on one communication, through printed text
distributed throughout a town.

7. THE TELEGRAPH
The telegraph became popular in 1838. Twenty years
later, the Trans-Atlantic telegraph provided
communication between America and Europe.
The first message sent by this method said: "Europe and
America are united by telegraphy. Glory to God in the highest;
on Earth, peace and good will toward men."

8. THOMAS EDISON INVENTED THE PHONOGRAPH
IN 1877.
The Acoustic Phonograph played sound vibrations
waveforms by vibrating along the grooves of a disc to
create sound waves.

9. IN 1876, ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL INVENTED
THE TELEPHONE.

10. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY CAME IN 1893, WHEN
NIKOLA TESLA USED “WIRELESS LIGHTING.”

11. THE RADIO BECAME AVAILABLE AROUND 1896,
THOUGH RADIO SIGNALS HAD BEEN USED FOR
TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION IN THE EARLY
1800S.

12. TRANSCONTINENTAL TELEPHONE CALLING
ALLOWED PEOPLE TO CALL OTHERS OVERSEAS
BEGINNING IN 1914.
In 1956, the first trans-Atlantic telephone
cable (which is located underwater) became
available for use.

13. IN 1970, OPTICAL FIBERS WERE CREATED.
In the late 70s, fiber optical telecommunications were
introduced. This helped to speed up communications with
better connections and less issues.
These are used today to deliver faster internet and larger
bandwidth.

14. THE FIRST TELEVISION WAS MADE IN 1927, BUT
IT TOOK DECADES BEFORE FAMILIES IN AMERICA
COULD WATCH THEIR OWN.
Today, televisions are widely used for information
and entertainment.

15. COMPUTER NETWORKING ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS
WITH COMPUTERS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER
COMPUTER USERS.
The first wide area network (WAN) came in 1965 and
ARPANET was used to connect four universities in 1969.

16. THE FIRST MOBILE PHONE WAS INVENTED IN
1973 BY MOTOROLA.
Our smartphones today are leaps and bounds
above the capabilities and technology of original
cell phones.

17. SMTP E-MAIL BECAME AVAILABLE IN 1981.
ANDINSTANTMESSAGINGBECAMEPOPULARINTHEMID-1990S.

18. SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME VERY A POPULAR
WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY,
AND BUSINESS PARTNERS TODAY.

19. MOBILE APPS
Additionally, mobile apps are widely used with
smartphones, and video communications, such as
Google Hangouts and Skype, can be used to connect
visually and audibly with someone regardless of where
you are located.

20. WHAT’S NEXT?
With new technologies such as Google Glass and the
Apple Watch, the possibilities seem limitless.
Having a good grasp on the transformation of
communications over time helps to explain the vastness
of these possibilities.

21. COMMUNICATIONHASADVANCEDTREMENDOUSLY.ONEOFTHEADVANCES
INTECHNOLOGYHELPINGGROUPSOFEVERYSIZEISMASS-MESSAGING.
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