History of Communication Technology

By the common quetzal
  • First recorded signs of writing
    3500 BCE

    First recorded signs of writing

    The Sumerians develop cuneiform writing and the Egyptians develop hieroglyphic writing.
  • First alphabet
    1600 BCE

    First alphabet

    The Phoenicians develop an alphabet.
  • Signalling messages are used
    26

    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.
  • Paper is invented
    105

    Paper is invented

    Tsai Lun invents paper.
  • Paper is introduced
    751

    Paper is introduced

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

    The quill

    The quill starts being used for writing.
  • Wooden block printing
    1305

    Wooden block printing

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

    The printing press.

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

    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