4. Telecommunications Engineering- Historical and Societal influences

Question 1

What are some histroical developments in the telecommunications industry

Answer 1

1. Michael Farady showed that a magentic field was associated with electric current
2. Samuel Morse (telegraph) single wire telegraph using dots and dashes
3. Trans- Atlantic cable (burnt out after a week) 1857-58 2nd 1865-1866
4. Australian overland telegraph 1870
5. Telephone (Alexander Graham Bell)
6. wireless commincation (radio, Tv)

Question 2

What types of materials have been used over time

Answer 2

• metals (high electrical conductivity) intially steel and iron, then copper and aluminium.
• ceramics (porcelain and glass)
• polymer insulators
• Rubber, polyethylene
• semiconductors (microelectronics and obptical fibres)

Question 3

What were the effects of telecommunications innovation on peoples lives?

Answer 3

• Connecting people (from telegraph invention)
• information became immediate (instead of days /weeks/months)
• changing commerce, trade, law inforcement and war
• Radio/ TV change entertainment
• Modern communications sytems has gone from communicatiopn to information provider (individuals can reach as many people as Newspapers TV audiences)
• reduced isolation
• problems (reduce excercise/ online bullying)