... the first 200 years

Ian Grahamwww.iangraham.org

(hi)story

technology

evolution

innovation

25 December, 1763

b. Claude Chappe

14 July, 1789

2 March, 1791

"si vous réussissez, vous

serez bientôt couverts de

gloire"

~3 bits/sec (26 words/min) 1400 km/h

560 station

s

4,800 km

~1840

telegraph

semaphore

control codes

1837

1 January 1845

...he is in the garb of a kwaker with a

brown coat on which reaches....

Culture

coded messages --AB BFT CK IF CHN ATE

social networking

technology subculture

Monopoly (Western Union)

The “1891” World Network

…and circa 1914

“Mr Watson, come here: I want to see

you”

“What use,” he asked pleasantly, “could this company make of an electrical toy?”

President Orton, of Western Union, refusing a $100,000 plea to

purchase the Bell telephone company assets.

Explosive Growth

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

1870 1880 1890 1900 1910

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Year