Communications

Smoke Signals

200 BCE

Smoke signals are the oldest form of visual communication. Simplistic in design and execution, they were used first used in 200 BC to send messages along the Great Wall of China. In 150 BC, Greek Historian Polybius devised a system of smoke signals that were visual representations of the alphabet. This meant that messages could easily be sent by holding sets of torchers in pairs.

Carrier Pigeon

Jan 1, 1100

In the 12th century pigeons were used to carry messages from Egypt to cities as far away as Baghdad in modern day Iraq. This extensive communication system, which used pigeons to link cities hundreds of kilometers apart, is recognised as the first organised pigeon messaging service of it’s kind. Pigeons also played a pivotal part in both WWI and WWII, unerringly delivering vital messages that helped to save the lives of thousands of civilians and combatants alike.

Telegraph

Jan 1, 1844

The telegraph is a communication system that transmitted electric signals over wires from location to location that translated into a message. In 1844, Samuel Morse sent his first telegraph message, from Washington D.C. to Baltimore Maryland.

Landlines

Jan 1, 1950

Before the cellular phone, there existed these things called landlines. Most households had one from the 1950’s onwards, and only one person could make a call at a time.

sms

Jan 1, 1992

The first text message ever sent was in 1992. It simply read ‘Merry Christmas’ and was sent to the CEO of Vodafone.

dial up internet

Jul 1, 1992

he archaic way to connect to the wide world web – a time before Wi-Fi.

Facebook

Jan 1, 2004

The social networking site Facebook was invented by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 and was originally purposed to connect Harvard students with one another. Now, it boasts 1.23 billion users monthly (or 1/6th of the worlds population).

smartphone

Jan 1, 2007

The first smartphone came out in 2007 by Steve Jobs reffering to it as a revolutionary and magical product