In the early days, about a century ago, there was few ways of mass communication. The only real source of mass communication was print. Every town or city had a local newspaper where all the information was released to everyone. But then there was a new invention, radio. Radio was an extremely influential part of everyday life, and still is in the 21st century. Most people credit the invention of radio to a man named Guglielmo Marconi. Although there were many people that contributed to the invention, he was the first man to actually find out how to broadcast sound waves and succeed. In 1902, Marconi held a lecture for the Society of Arts, which is where he discussed his technique that he called “Syntonic Wireless Telegraphy.” This is his theory of his states: “It is desirable that the induction coil should be in tune or syntony with the electrical oscillations transmitted, the most appropriate number of turns and most appropriate thickness of wire varying with the length of wave transmitted.” This is a quote that was made from Marconi in the early 1900’s.
This is a timeline explaining all of the events that led up to the invention of radio. All of these occurrences are ones that helped in Marconi’s invention of one of the greatest mass communication devices, the radio.
1831 – Michael Faraday discovered the principle of electro-magnetic induction.
1842 – Joseph Henry discovers that an electrical spark between two conductors is able to induce magnetism in needles; this effect is detected at a distance of 30 meters.
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1858 – Feddersen proves with his experiments the oscillating character of spark-discharges.
1867 – James Clerk Maxwell developed his theory on electro-magnetism and predicted the existence of electrical waves in the aether.
1870 – Von Bezold discovered interference with capacitor-discharges.
1879 – David E. Hughes discovered that a tube of iron filings becomes conductive by action at distance by electrical sparks, he makes a signal audible on a headphone on a distance of 500 meters, he stopped his experiments when Sir George Stokes professed that the appearances concerned just ordinary induction, he did not publish about his discovery.
1882 – Graham Bell en William H. Preece transmit signals across sea by means of induction, between England and the Isle Wight, at heat moment of a cable disorder. This system of wireless telegraphy does not develop on a large scale; the system is older than the later system of aether-waves.
1887 – Heinrich Rudolph Hertz, private teacher at Kiel, discovers that the effect of electrical sparks is based on wave-phenomena in the aether. He confirmed the theory of Maxwell; according to this theory these waves travel by the same speed of light.
1890 – Branly attracts attention to the properties of tubes with iron filings, which were re-discovered by several researchers. Herewich electrical waves can be detected (Coherer by Branly).
1892 – Preece signals across the Bristol Channel with his induction-system.
1894 – Lodge repeats the tests of hertz with a coherer.
1895 – Popoff constructs a receiver for natural electrical waves, which he uses to try and detect thunderstorms.
1896 – Guglielmo Marconi demonstrates the wireless telegraphy to the English telegraph-office, after a year of testing in Italy. He proves the possibilities of wireless telegraphy with a coherer
1897 – Marconi establishes the first “Marconi-station” at Needles (Isle Wight); this station sends a signal to the English coast over 22 km.
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1898 – – 3 June, the first played wireless telegram sent from Needles.
– 20 July, first newspaper message sent from a ship to the Daily Express concerning the results of a sailing contest.
1901 – Marconi uses syntonised (tuned) receivers and transmitters
– 12 and 13 December, first signals sent across the Atlantic Ocean from Poldhu to Newfoundland (2800km).
1902 – Marconi develops the magnetic detector.
Wireless connection between Hoek van Holland and lightship Maas over 15 km.
1903 – – Schlömilch develops the electrolytic detector.
– Poulsen discovers the transmission of continuous waves with an electric arc.
– The Eiffel tower will be used as a Wireless Station.
– First news-service to ships at sea.
– Wireless “Marconi-service” from London to the Dutch “Handelsblad”.
Since the invention of radio, radio has taken leaps and bounds to become one of the biggest and most influential mass communicator. Radio can be accessed all over the world and that is what makes it such a popular way to communicate with a large amount of people simply through turning on a radio. Radio has affected many of our lives, especially mine. Radio has had at least some sort of affect on each and every one of our lives. Whether be through getting news about certain stories and informing you about what is going on in the world, or whether it is putting you in a good mood because you heard your favorite song on the air. However you want to put it, radio has its affects, good and bad.
Although radio will soon start to fade out and be less used because of the new age of the Internet. Soon either all radio stations will most likely be run by computers or will be web-based. And then radio will barely even exist. But lets all hope that this will not happen for a long, long time. Because when radio phases out, all of our lives will be affected. Whether you know it now or not.
