History of Communication Technology

By the common quetzal
  • 3500 BCE

    First recorded signs of writing

    First recorded signs of writing
    The Sumerians develop cuneiform writing and the Egyptians develop hieroglyphic writing.
  • 1600 BCE

    First alphabet

    First alphabet
    The Phoenicians develop an alphabet.
  • 26

    Signalling messages are used

    Signalling messages are used
    The Emperor Tiberius rules the Roman empire from the island of Capri by signaling messages with metal mirrors to reflect the sun.
  • 105

    Paper is invented

    Paper is invented
    Tsai Lun invents paper.
  • 751

    Paper is introduced

    Paper is introduced
    Paper is introduced to the Muslim world after the Battle of Talas.
  • 1250

    The quill

    The quill
    The quill starts being used for writing.
  • 1305

    Wooden block printing

    Wooden block printing
    The Chinese develop movable wooden block type printing.
  • 1450

    The printing press.

    The printing press.
    Johannes Gutenberg finishes a printing press with metal movable type, and introduces printing to Europe.
  • 1520

    Sailors learn to signal

    Sailors learn to signal
    Ships on Ferdinand Magellan's voyage fire cannons and use flags to signal to each other.

  • Semaphore telegraph line

    Semaphore telegraph line
    Claude Chappe establishes the first practical long-distance semaphore telegraph line.

  • Electric telegraph

    Electric telegraph
    Joseph Henry proposes and builds an electric telegraph.

  • Morse Code

    Morse Code
    Samuel Morse develops the Morse Code, and later develops the first long distance electric telegraph line.

  • Electric telephone

    Electric telephone
    Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A. Watson exhibit an electric telephone in Boston.

  • First radio broadcast

    First radio broadcast
    Radio station KDKA based in Pittsburgh began the first broadcast.

  • First television signal

    First television signal
    John Logie Baird transmits the first television signal.

  • Frequency hopping spread spectrum

    Frequency hopping spread spectrum
    Hedy Lamarr and George Antheil invent frequency hopping spread spectrum communication technique.

  • Commercial television

    Commercial television
    Full-scale commercial television is first broadcast.

  • Photocopier

    Photocopier
    Chester Carlson presents the first photocopier suitable for office use.

  • First geosynchronous satellite

    First geosynchronous satellite
    First geosynchronous communications satellite is launched.

  • First email

    First email
    The first email is sent (at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT).

  • First mobile phone

    First mobile phone
    Nordic Mobile Telephone, the world´s first fully automatic mobile phone, is put into operation.

  • World Wide Web prototype

    World Wide Web prototype
    Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau build the prototype system which became the World Wide Web.

  • First SMS

    First SMS
    Neil Papworth sends the first SMS (or text message).

  • First digital cinema transmission

    First digital cinema transmission
    First digital cinema transmission by satellite in Europe of a feature film by Bernard Pauchon and Philippe Binant.
  • Period: to

    Social media

    The following social media sites come out (in chronological order) - Facebook,YouTube, Twitter, iPhone, Instagram, iPad, Snapchat