History of Digital Communication

By abrod

  • Semaphore Telegraph

    Semaphore Telegraph
    In France, Claude Chappe establishes the first long-distance semaphore telegraph line through a series of towers in line of sight of each other. Using a telescope, they would read a message, then pass it to the next tower.

  • Telegraph Line

    Telegraph Line
    Joseph Henry built an electric device and successfully sent a signal over a short distance, approximately 1.5 miles. This was not used because of the limited range.

  • Telegraph Machine

    Telegraph Machine
    Samuel Morse builds the first long-distance electric telegraph line. Additionally, he contributed to the invention of the single-wire telegraph which led to the commercial use of telegraphy. He also designed the Morse Code.

  • Landline Telephone

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

  • Computer

    Computer

  • Radio Broadcast

    Radio Broadcast
    Radio station KDKA based in Pittsburgh began the first broadcast.

  • Television

    Television
    Full-scale commercial television is first broadcast.

  • Fax Machine

    Fax Machine
    First modern fax machine commercially available (Long Distance Xerography)

  • Email

    First email sent.

  • Mobile Phone

    Mobile Phone
    The first cell phone was the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X.
  • Period: to

    Social Networking

    2003 – Skype
    2004 – Facebook
    2005 – YouTube
    2005 – Reddit
    2006 – Twitter
    2007 – iPhone
    2010 – Instagram
    2011 – Snapchat
    2015 – Discord