Whilst
many people associate telecommunications with modern technology, the strict
definition of this term includes other ancient and primitive forms of
telecommunication. These include
the sending of smoke signals as a type of visual telegraph; a communication
method employed by the Native American Indians. They would waft a blanket over a fire to generate clouds of
smoke, at timed intervals, which they used to communicate messages over relatively long distances. The effectiveness of this communication depended on weather conditions and also line of sight.
Semaphores and the arrangement of ships flags were other examples of historic telecommunications. A semaphore, otherwise referred to as an optical telegraph, was a mechanical device positioned on top a tall building with pivoting shutters, blades or flags. The blades would be configured in to a specific configuration, the position of which would communicate information.
With the advent of electricity in the 19th century, we began to see more and more advanced telecommunication devices, most noteworthy of which might be the telephone. Actually, this was probably the greatest, most groundbreaking invention of its time. It was the beginning of the telephony era and was the first telecommunications device to enable real time, bidirectional, voice transmission.
The
20th and 21st century has bought many technological advances in
telecommunication, including mobile phones, the Internet and satellite. We are now so reliant on
telecommunications for business communication, and in our personal lives, life without such
technology seems almost unimaginable.