The telephone is a natural part of our daily lives, we rarely even think about this technology that we readily use every day. The telephone was a revolutionary invention at the time but today it has somewhat been lost compared to all of the other technologies that we use such as satellite television and the internet. It is almost as though we take the telephone for granted because it has been around so long and we have really come to rely on it.
The telephone is a very important communication technology because it is used to connect people from all over the world and while this may not seem too important, it was one of the first ways that people could communicate with each other in real time. People were actually physically talking to each other at the same time, instead of conversing through letters sent by mail. The telephone allowed news to travel faster and for people to stay in contact more easily.
We can thank Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison for the early ideas of the telephone. Although there is still some debate over who is the “true” inventor, one thing that is for sure is that the invention was greatly needed. The conception of the telephone then lead to the creation of telephone companies which branched out from local calls to long distance and international calls, connecting the entire globe. There have been many advances throughout the years that allow phone calls to be clearer and new networks to make telecommunications more efficient. For example, the old “star” network has been updated to the “fiber to the feeder network”.
Many other features have also been added to the telephone such as call waiting, caller id and three way calls. These have all been added to make our lives easier and provide new additions to this technology. Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone is also being marketed. This is combining two communication technologies. VoIP has telephone calls use packet based switching over high speed internet.
In Robert Hopper and Kent Drummond’s article, “Accomplishing Interpersonal Relationship: The Telephone Openings of Strangers and Intimates”, telephone communication is studied to see the differences between talking to familiar people and strangers. It shows the power of telephone communication in relationships. Due to the fact that a person’s voice can be heard over the telephone, the listener is able to discern the person’s feeling. The telephone is a powerful device of communication for that fact because there is a lot that can be inferred from the tone in one’s voice.
The telephone is clearly a vital part in everyone’s life. It connects people all over the world and makes them feel close even though they are miles apart. It is a more personal communication because feelings in a person’s voice can be heard through the phone. Although it is one of the older inventions it is definitely one of the most used. It could almost be said that the telephone makes the world go round.
References:
Hopper, R., & Drummond, K. (1992). Accomplishing interpersonal relationship: The telephone openings of strangers and intimates. Western Journal of Communication, 56(3), 185-199.
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10 comments:
The telephone is a great invention and the off shoots of the telephone are just as important, I am thankful for those who made it happen. The only thing that I do not like that came with the telephone is the excitement of getting a letter in the mail. After being deployed for 14 months you find that the best times you can have are not the phone calls home but the letters you receive from family and friends. The great thing is you can go back and read over the letters and remind yourself of home but with a phone call you can not do this. You lose your personal connection. So, in general I am thankful for the phone but I do not think there is anything better then getting a letter.
price.450
I completely agree. The telephone is something that keeps the world going. Without it, we would have no form of fast communication and maybe even communication in general. I will admit that my phone has become a part of me and without it, I feel naked and useless. The telephone helps my life in so many ways I couldn't imagine my life without it. And I agree on the fact that the telephone is one of the oldest technologies that is being taken for granted. The telephone is something that is imperative whether it be in the business field, medical, school, social life, and so on. It really helps to connect people all around the world.
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lee.2784
This was a very good article. I completely agree that the telephone was a great invention and was a stepping stone for many technologies. I don't know what I would do without my cell phone especially and rely on it to make hundreds of phone calls a week. It is hard to believe what we did without cell phones and can't believe that I didn't own one at one time. Cell phones today can not only connect your calls but they can keep a personnal calender for you, set reminders, calculate, play music and TV and many other great things. Thanks Alexander Graham Bell and Edison we have the technology we have to today.
lleonart.2
I love my cell phone, of course, and take its functionality for granted. I feel out of the loop when I break or lose it. Not that I enjoy talking on the phone for all that long but the state of being unreachable and not able to call others on a whim of an idea can make on feel lost as well. On the other hand, sometimes your phone can become a hassle and it's nice to break contact and live a life of mystery and spontaneity. I agree that we have come to rely on it, as we have with many other of todays technological advances, and I'm going to take some time to celebrate the telephone as well. Why, not all that long ago my dad recieved a cell phone that would make it possible to call him when he travels to Europe and South America. It's nice to have that option and know that I could reach him at any time. On the timeline of the wireless message I would say that is fairly recent. Yay telephone!!!
Danny Monk
monk.24
I agree with you one hundred percent. The telephone was a great invention and deserves to be recognized. I like that you talked about how people can recognize other people’s emotions on the phone. I think that being able too have different emotions on the phone is important in a conversation. When people send emails or talk online, that emotion or felling one gets from hearing another persons voice is lost. I speak with a lot of emotion so I can relate to that portion of the paper. People need to appreciate the phone and remember what this great invention has become over the years.
dixon.311
I have always been fascinated with the technology associated with the telephone. To think that you could talk to someone 100 miles away and hear almost the same voice you could hear in person is pretty remarkable. It literally made communication a million times faster than letters and more convenient and easy to use compared to the telegraph. It is a technology that is taken for granted during these times when cell phone use is very popular. Landlines are more reliable than cell phones and can be used even when most power lines go down. In addition, the convergence of cable, internet, and phone from some companies has allowed long distant calling to be extremely cheap.
elkins.48
I think the telephone might be the single most important communication technology we have today. The computer is important for sharing ideas but i feel the phone is the most important communication technology we have for connecting with relationships. It is so much easier to get hold of someone on their cell phone if they are really needed than their computer. Computers are big and their bateries do not last as long as a cell phones. I feel that the phone is more personal than email or instant messaging. People often do those so they do not have to talk directly to the person. I think with out the telephone communication would be nearly impossible.
I think the telephone might be the single most important communication technology we have today. The computer is important for sharing ideas but i feel the phone is the most important communication technology we have for connecting with relationships. It is so much easier to get hold of someone on their cell phone if they are really needed than their computer. Computers are big and their bateries do not last as long as a cell phones. I feel that the phone is more personal than email or instant messaging. People often do those so they do not have to talk directly to the person. I think with out the telephone communication would be nearly impossible.
mielcarek.1
I have to agree that the telephone is one of the most important inventions of today’s society. Not just for the personal use that you covered in you blog but also the business side of using the phone. Today, I guarantee over half of the worlds business could not operate without this form of communication probably almost all of them. More and more jobs are being done away from the office or on the road which relies heavily on the worker to keep in contact via telephone. I personally have had job interviews over the phone and have made contacts with businesses over the phone.
gray.477
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