Communication technology

Evolution of Communication Technology

By tayhillard
  • 500 BCE

    First Record of Handwritten Letter

    First Record of Handwritten Letter
    Letter writing was the first form of direct, long-distance communication. Until modern forms of transportation, letters could take many weeks to arrive. Even today, letters travelling across countries may not arrive for weeks.

  • First Commercial Telegraph System Patented

    First Commercial Telegraph System Patented
    The telegraph was the first form of telecommunications. It allowed quick delivery of messages across long distances. This invention revolutionized the world of communication.

  • First Successful Telephone Transmission

    First Successful Telephone Transmission
    The telephone allowed individuals to not only communicate across distances but to communicate vocally. Users could clearly hear the voice of the person they were speaking with and reply.

  • First Email Network Created

    First Email Network Created
    Email allowed individuals to communicate via the Internet. They could type a lengthy message with much more ease than the telegraph and send it to another individual with email capabilities.

  • Instant Messaging Available

    Instant Messaging Available
    Users were able to communicate with text in real-time using instant messaging via the Internet. This messaging made Internet communication even more quick and was more suitable for conversations than email.

  • First Mobile Phone Available Across US

    First Mobile Phone Available Across US
    The mobile phone allowed individuals to communicate from wherever they were. It provided the same benefits of communicating via telephone, but the user did not have to be home.

  • First Person-to-Person Text Message Sent

    First Person-to-Person Text Message Sent
    Text messaging allowed individuals to instantly message another individual with a mobile phone. This mode of communication allowed for the convenience of instant messaging without having to sit in front of a computer.

  • Snapchat Released

    Snapchat Released
    Snapchat became part of the popular means of communicating via social media. Snapchat allows users to send pictures, videos and messages to specific individuals as well as a large group. Individuals receive these messages and can reply instantaneously.