... the first 200 years

Ian Grahamwww.iangraham.org

(hi)story(hi)story

technologytechnology

evolutionevolution

innovationinnovation

25 December, 1763

b. Claude Chappe

14 July, 1789

2 March, 1791

"si vous réussissez, vous

serez bientôt couverts de

gloire"

~3 bits/sec (2~3 bits/sec (26 words/min) 1400 km/h6 words/min) 1400 km/h

560 560 stationstation

ss

4,800 4,800 kmkm

~1840~1840

telegraph

semaphore

control codes

1837

1 January 1845

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

brown coat on which reaches....

CultureCulturecoded messages --

AB BFT CK IF CHN ATE

social networking

technology subculture

Monopoly (Western Union)

The “1891” World The “1891” World NetworkNetwork

……and circa 1914and 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 GrowthExplosive 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

Subscribers

Year