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Guest Author: Sandor Varga |
Can you imagine a world without telephones, radios, televisions, computers or space-satellites? Modern technology is advancing relentlessly and the explosion in information that this brings is changing every aspect of our lives. During the past one hundred years, sciences and technology have developed tremendously one often propelling the other to further advances. The advances made in biotechnology, transportation, medicine, power generation, and communications have propelled our lives to the highest living standards ever known in human history. In the field of communications alone; telephones, radios, televisions, computers and space satellites are responsible for the freedom and wealth we now enjoy; moreover, all of these are derived from the invention of electricity.
Firstly, the major advance in modern communication for the general public was the telephone. It was only made possible by the transmission of electrical impulses over long-distance wire. This gave us the telegraph, which allowed communication with Morse code. In addition, this then led to the telephone where one person could communicate verbally with another in the same second over thousands of miles. To illustrate, families and friends are communicating very easily across nations and continents.
Secondly, electricity is also responsible for the development of radio. When radio was first invented it was distinct from telegraph and the telephone in that radio did not require a wire. Radio developed as a way of communicating with a mass audience. Thus the general public was able to hear the news and public affairs in a very timely fashion. That is, radio made it possible for citizens to know the nation's business, and that of the world, very quickly. This information has improved our political process and enhanced our freedom.
Thirdly, radio led very quickly to television. The major improvement that television has over radio is the visual image. The invention of photography in 1840’s had transformed our visual world. In a few decades thereafter one could present one still photograph after another and show motion picture. The coming together of motion pictures and radio produced television. In this fashion, two technologies gave birth to another. The visual images of western culture are broadcast around the world and illustrate people can now see what other people's lives are like. Hopefully this will propel their political systems to improve their living standards.
Furthermore, the next big advance in communication was the invention of the personal computers. The personal computer wedded to the telephone lines and through radio to space satellites has pushed communications to an incredible level. This digital technology has improved everyone’s life. Equally important, the digital computer became a programmable electronic device that processes numbers and words accurately and at enormous speed and shares information with other computers. For instance, through E-mail, the Internet, electronic money, computer speech recognition, virtual reality, robotics, …the list is endless.
Finally, our constant research into improving communications has led us to space. Now satellites circle the globe. Respectively, telephones no longer need wires; televisions no longer need wires; computers no longer need wires to communicate. Effectively, distance is no longer an obstacle to communication. Who can tell what will be invented in ten years’ time to improve our lives from these ever-growing technologies? While it is true that the modern technology and the space program are costly, these investments contribute to serve the humankind and change every aspect of our lives.
To conclude, it is impossible for anyone in the modern world to function without telephones, radios, televisions, computers and space satellites. Each of these grows from the invention of electricity only one hundred years ago. Moreover, each is intricately woven into the other technology and married with other technologies in our lives. Advances in biotechnology, transportation, medicine, and power generation are related to advances in communication. These all improve our lives. Technology has made the world a better place in which to live.
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