Wk3 Reading (Tele to Net)
Winston, B. "Chapter 2: Before the Speaking Telephone." and "Chapter 3: The Capture of Sound." Media Technology and Society.
I love the reoccuring references to the "lovers' telegraph." I vividly recall using the device he is talking about (which probably grew my brain in the direction of mass communication and technology.)
It's amaizing what kind of technological advances had to be made in order to facilitate the telephone from the telegraph. Reading the chapter explaining the invention process of the telegraph puts you in thouch with the understanding of the day. To then move into the telephone took a great deal of 'scientific competence' as Winston puts it.
It's also interesting to see the portions of the technology being discovered here that are second nature to our understanding of devices and general physics. I love the description of magnetic fields on page 32 that sound like a description of a magic spell.
The potential for the device was palpable, a frustrating race within the small community who knew it was there and were'nt afraid to try.
It's funny how rediculous some of these sound inventions are. But, without foresight you're doomed to look stupid from the future. The reliance on water is my favorite.
As for the carious factors that dictates adoption of an innovation, all I have to say is that the best does not always win. The chaotic and darwinian process that reveals business application and true social desire will drive a new technology's sucess.
Oh, wait... I forgot to use this weeks buzz word; supervening social necessity. So, their are larger factors at work which exist in the culture and state of a society which also effect the adoption of a given technology.
In the case of the telephone and gramaphone, the application of this technology was different than that of the intensions of the innovators. The telephone was a household sucess as well as a business device and recorded sound was used for entertainment more than for business.
I love the reoccuring references to the "lovers' telegraph." I vividly recall using the device he is talking about (which probably grew my brain in the direction of mass communication and technology.)
It's amaizing what kind of technological advances had to be made in order to facilitate the telephone from the telegraph. Reading the chapter explaining the invention process of the telegraph puts you in thouch with the understanding of the day. To then move into the telephone took a great deal of 'scientific competence' as Winston puts it.
It's also interesting to see the portions of the technology being discovered here that are second nature to our understanding of devices and general physics. I love the description of magnetic fields on page 32 that sound like a description of a magic spell.
The potential for the device was palpable, a frustrating race within the small community who knew it was there and were'nt afraid to try.
It's funny how rediculous some of these sound inventions are. But, without foresight you're doomed to look stupid from the future. The reliance on water is my favorite.
As for the carious factors that dictates adoption of an innovation, all I have to say is that the best does not always win. The chaotic and darwinian process that reveals business application and true social desire will drive a new technology's sucess.
Oh, wait... I forgot to use this weeks buzz word; supervening social necessity. So, their are larger factors at work which exist in the culture and state of a society which also effect the adoption of a given technology.
In the case of the telephone and gramaphone, the application of this technology was different than that of the intensions of the innovators. The telephone was a household sucess as well as a business device and recorded sound was used for entertainment more than for business.
posted by joshua at 5:08 PM
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