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3300 BCE
Cuneiform
Cuneiform is the earliest known writing system using wedge-shaped characters on clay tablets. It allowed for the recording of economic transactions, stories, and laws. -
3000 BCE
Egyptian Hieroglyphics
The ancient Egyptians used intricate symbols and pictures to communicate stories, religious beliefs, and historical events. Hieroglyphs combined logographic, syllabic and alphabetic elements, with more than 100 distinct characters. -
1200 BCE
Paleolithic Cave Art
Paleolithic cave paintings are the earliest known form of visual communication. These images are thought to represent the culture of early humans. -
1200
Illuminated Manuscripts
An illuminated manuscript is a formally prepared document where the text is decorated with flourishes like borders and miniature illustrations containing metals like gold or silver. Monks were the sole makers of illuminated manuscripts. They copied books mainly for use in worship. -
1440
Printing Press
The printing press was invented by Gutenberg in Germany. The printing press revolutionized communication by allowing for the mass production of books and documents. -
Telegraph
Samuel Morse's invention of the telegraph enabled long-distance communication through electrical signals sent over wires, significantly speeding up the exchange of information. -
Radio
Marconi's creation of the radio allowed for the broadcast of news, music, and entertainment to a wide audience. The radio shaped the world of mass media. -
Movies
The first to present projected moving pictures to a paying audience were the Lumière brothers in 1895 in Paris, France. They made a device called the Cinématographe, which was a camera, projector and a film printer all in one. -
Television
Philo Farnsworth's invention of the television brought audiovisual communication into people's homes, changing how we receive news, entertainment, and information. Colored TV didn't come until 1953. -
Computers
The development of electronic computers laid the foundation for the digital age, allowing for faster data processing and storage. The first electronic programmable computer, called the Colossus(1943) and helped British code breakers to read encrypted German messages during WW2. Then we have the invention of the first digital computer in 1946. -
Gaming Systems
The introduction of gaming consoles like the Magnavox Odyssey, Atari and Nintendo brought interactive entertainment into households. -
Internet
Internet developed from ARPANET. The creation of ARPANET and the World Wide Web transformed global communication. Connecting people around the world and revolutionizing how information is shared. -
Artificial Intelligence
AI has become popular in the past few years with the advanced language models like ChatGPT showcase AI's ability to understand and communicate. AI impacts various aspects of communication, from automated customer service to personalized recommendations.