...Time and Distance Overcome Mankind has since the beginning of time invented things that had changed the world whether it was something as simple as a stone weapon to kill off animals or something huge, life-changing as the telephone. We humans have always been extremely curious. We follow our own instincts and new ideas are formed. In 1870s Alexander Graham Bell invented what now has become the most important thing in our modern world – the telephone. But it was not was not as widely accepted as it is now, on the contrary. Mr. Bell had to deal with all the obstacles and criticism before it was accepted because at that time ‘’The world was not waiting or the telephone’’ (P. 7, ll. 1-2) The text ‘’Time and distance overcome’’ is written by Eula Biss in which it has described how the telephone was received back then. In our modern world, we would not be able to comprehend how it was to live in a world without telephone, without a chance to communicate with one another. Back in 1800th, the reality looked a bit different. In the beginning, you were able to, if paid, to witness it being demonstrated by Bell in a local church but it went quickly downhill from there. It quickly turned into a plaything for rich people. in 1889, The New York Times reported a war between phone companies and home owners and business owners. Telephone poles were erected but then sawed down again by these owners. Judges in court found the people who sawed down telephone poles, ‘’not guilty of malicious mischief’’...
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...currently a professor at the University of Western Sydney. Alice could be seen scribbling away, a cup of coffee before her , trying to render the world in prose, trying to unlock with words the complicated inside of things..." (Jones, 2007, 47) This quote is perfect to explain and even help picture what was going through Alice's mind. Poetry behind machines, technology and modernity in general. I decided to begin with it because this simple mix of words was what made me continue to read the book and it sums it up pretty well. The first few chapters focus on Alice's childhood, her family and her love story with Stephen. Obviously, this was useful to give some insight about the main character's personality and background. In the middle of the text there are some parts where the story stops momentarily and some remarks are made by Mr. Sakamoto, Alice or the author herself. This happens throughout the book and it can help or difficult the task of reading it depending on the perspective. I found it interesting and annoying at the same time. Further ahead, she meets Mr. Sakamoto. An elderly man from Nagasaki. Now this is when the book really begins for me. He was writing a biography about Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the phone. They got along really fast. Too fast, in my opinion. Even taking into consideration Alice's loneliness after Stephen's departure. We are presented, later, with the story of Hiroshi Sakamoto's past. A man deeply afected by the...
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...responsibility for my life. Taking this step required a skill that needs to be learned by many individuals. The acceptance of inner acknowledgment that we are solely responsible for all our own choices in life - even when life deals us a challenging hand – our acceptance will give us an upper hand. Taking control of that challenge frees us to seek out and accept help for ourselves. In taking on this task we should ask ourselves a simple question, how responsible are we in dealing with the part we played in being who we are today? And if we don't feel like we, ourselves, are responsible for our present situation, then who is the responsible party? Why are we so programmed to blame someone other than ourselves? One of my favorite quotes is by Alexander Graham Bell (1827), and he said, “A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with. A man is what he makes of himself.” In entering adulthood, we consciously (or unconsciously) choose how our self-esteem develops, but most of us seem to always have the thought that, “if it was not for her,” or “if I could only go back and do things different.” We must learn to work out our disappointments, anger, hostility and depression over those regrets and focus on our NOW. Who we are now, and where we are going with this life now. In starting this process it is wise to make a list of those parts of our lives that are inconsistent with the lifestyle that we truly want for ourselves. I began this essay proclaiming that I take responsibility...
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...Randall Stephenson and AT&T Randall Stephenson and AT&T The beginning history of AT&T consists largely of the invention of the telephone in 1875 by Alexander Graham Bell. Progressing into the 19th century, AT&T became the umbrella company over the Bell System, or better known by some as, the American Telephone Monopoly. There’s no argument that the Bell System was the best telephone service in the world and by 1969 ninety percent of households in the United States had home phone service. Yet in the background to providing home phone service AT&T was also hard at work in continued development or forecasting for the future. From the early 1900’s to the mid 1970’s new advancements of communication technologies were taking place in AT&T’s Bell Laboratories subsidiary. These innovations included alternatives to copper wires such as microwave relay systems and commercial communications satellites for international communications. However, like all behemoths, a fall was inevitable. The changes in telecommunications over the years led to an antitrust suit by the U.S.Goverment against AT&T. This began in 1974 and settled in 1982 with agreement that AT&T would divest itself into a new AT&T and seven regional Bell operating companies. This was believed to enhance entry for competition. Which in fact, it did, as many new companies began to emerge. But what it also did was create the most elaborate change in corporate culture...
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...Top 10: Greatest Inventions Of All Time Inventions are pretty useful things, in fact, inventions are very useful things. People are inventing new things all the time - unfortunately, the vast majority of inventions tend to be utterly useless; but every now and then someone comes up with something that completely changes the world and it is these few ideas that this hub is about. Now, there are, undoubtedly many equally great inventions as those on this list, but unfortunately it's had to be cut down to just 10. Things such as language have been omitted from this list for, while they are, indeed, quite useful, they were more developed out of necessity than invented; the same applies to fire - it has always been present on this earth, all we did was work out how to create it on a whim! So what are they? Read on.... 10 - The Wheel: I know what you're thinking: "what, those round things?" well, the short answer is "yes", the long answer: "yes it is". Point is, the wheel is the simplest invention in the universe - you need only scoop up a handful of mud, pat it into a circle and leave it in the sun to dry! So what's so great about it? Well, almost every land vehicle in existence uses wheels as do many many other things like anything with a belt drive (car engines, conveyor belts etc.) In fact, life would be pretty hard without it - but not impossible. The Incas and Aztecs, for example, despite coming up with fully working calendars and a vast knowledge of astronomy, didn't use wheels...
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...several services in its portfolio, to include, wireless cellular service, U-verse cable, cloud based applications, and land line phone service. In the most recent years AT&T’s major business focus has evolved into its cellular services and cloud based applications. Keywords: telecommunications, cellular, wireless, cloud based applications Running Head: AT&T Marketing Project 1 3 AT&T Marketing Project 1 AT&T is a multinational telecommunications company whose world headquarters are located in Dallas, Texas. AT&T is the largest combined landline and telecom provider in the US (Leichtman Research Group, 2013). AT&T’s history can be traced back to Alexander Graham Bell and the original Bell Telephone company. AT&T established several companies that the government finally considered a monopoly. In 1984, US government regulators broke the monopoly, Sprint and MCI quickly entered the industry as direct competitors. In 2005 SBC acquired AT&T for 16 billion dollars, after the acquisition SBC chose to keep the AT&T name and brand. AT&T is currently the 14th largest company in the US (Fortune 500, 2013) and 24th largest company in...
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...The History of the Telephone - Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell - Brief Biography Born on March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alexander Graham Bell was the son and grandson of authorities in elocution and the correction of speech. Educated to pursue a career in the same specialty, his knowledge of the nature of sound led him not only to teach the deaf, but also to invent the telephone. In the 1870s, two inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically (the telephone). Both men rushed their respective designs to the patent office within hours of each other, Alexander Graham Bell patented his telephone first. Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell entered into a famous legal battle over the invention of the telephone, which Bell won. The telegraph and telephone are both wire-based electrical systems, and Alexander Graham Bell's success with the telephone came as a direct result of his attempts to improve the telegraph. When Bell began experimenting with electrical signals, the telegraph had been an established means of communication for some 30 years. Although a highly successful system, the telegraph, with its dot-and-dash Morse code, was basically limited to receiving and sending one message at a time. Bell's extensive knowledge of the nature of sound and his understanding of music enabled him to conjecture the possibility of transmitting multiple messages over the same wire...
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...http://vigaexalt.blogspot.com/2014/01/innovation-key-transformation-for.html Innovative has seen the transformation of modern technology that suits global appeal. Organizations have constantly innovated new ideas, technologies, products and services to have competitive edge in its industry. Entrepreneurs should always constantly look into areas of creating new inventions’ or adapt the existing products. The most common one was the creative introduction of telephone by Alexander Graham Bell. It is still widely used but humans require a gadget that is mobile. In mid 1980s, Motorola launched the first hand phone in market which also prompted other brands such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Siemens and LG venturing in the mobile market in 1990s. However in 2000s, the world saw another innovation from the phone through the introduction of Apple’s IPhone. The birth of smartphones innovation channels in new players such as Samsung, Blackberry, HTC, Acer and Nokia to innovate their models. The creation started by Alexander Graham Bell has been adapted and altered to fulfil the current generation and needs. This process shall not end with the introduction of smart phones or tablet PC but innovation shall continue as it seeks refurbishment of finest and latest technology. Several worldwide popular entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Henry Ford, Oprah Winfrey, Ray Kroc, Walt Disney, George Lucas and Mark Zuckerberg has reshaped their respective ventured...
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...Analysis Environmental Analysis La Shawn Baker ECO/501- The purpose of this paper is to do an environmental analysis of AT&T. The environment of the telecommunication industry has three components of the macroeconomic environment, the industry environment, and the operating environment within the organization. This paper will cover the history of AT&T and it affected the communication industry. It will also outline the three variables that affect the telecommunication industry. AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph) establish in by Alexander Graham Bell. With the success of the telephone, Bell earned patents that also gained the interest of investors created a Bell Telephone Company. The telephone became the new found gadget of telecommunication; the service other exchange companies established across the United States. American Bell sought obtained Western Electric Company in 1882 making Bell Telephone Company into Bell System (History of AT&T, 2010). The telecommunication market, developed by AT&T, and expanded from one inventor, two investors by 1984 being 149 billion dollars, 1009,000 workers. Also in 1984, AT&T reduces long distance rates by 6.4%, as non-traffic sensitive costs begin moving from rates to local-company managed access charges. This was the first in a series of rate reductions over a six-year period (Milestone of AT&T, 2010). AT&T has several strengths, which, derives from their products wireless, landline, internet, and data TV. Their global...
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...States, with over 85.1 million wireless customers, and more than 210 million total customers. From the smallest changes to the most revolutionary development, AT&T has shaped the world by shaping the way how people communicate. Looked back about 130 years, AT&T always looked forward and searched for the next breakthrough to make communication more convenience. It brought meaningful changes to customers’ live since it wanted to shape the future also. Background 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell perfects telephone 1877 – Bell’s backers found Bell Telephone 1878 – New England Telephone is founded 1879 – 2 operating units are consolidated into National Bell Telephone 1882 – Bell company gains control of Western Electric which is the no.1 electrical equipment manufacturer in USA 1885 – AT&T is formed as subsidiary company of American Bell. Its mission is “Build the first long distance network. 1890 – Bell’s patents expires 1892 – There was the first line connects New York to Chicago. 1899 – Bell changes its name to AT&T and moves its headquarters to New York 1913 – AT&T agrees to buy no more independent phone companies 1914 – AT&T completes the first transcontinental line. 1917 – AT&T completes the first air to ground/ground to air radio communication. 1922 – AT&T is the first to broadcast commercially. 1935 – AT&T completes the first round-the-world call. 1946 – AT&T starts the first commercial, radio-based phone service. (mobile service) ...
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...Samuel F.B. Morse in 1837. This was the first instrument to transform information into electrical form and transmit it reliably over long distances. The earliest form of electrical communication, the original Morse telegraph of 1837 did not use a key and sounder. Instead it was a device designed to print patterns at a distance. 1858 Transoceanic telegraph cable is laid – The transoceanic telegraph cable is an undersea cable running under the Atlantic Ocean used for telegraph communications. The first communications occurred August 16, 1858, reducing the communication time between North America and Europe from ten days, the time it took to deliver a message by ship, to a matter of minutes. 1876 Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone - The telegraph was followed by Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone in 1876. The magneto-telephone was one of the first telephones on which both transmission and reception were done with the same instrument. 1885 - Incorporation of the American Telephone and Telegraph company (AT&T). After its incorporation in 1885, the American Telephone and Telegraph company dominated the telecommunications market. 1888 - Heinrich Hertz discovers the electromagnetic wave 1895 - Marconi begins experimenting with wireless telegraph 1901 Guglielmo Marconi invented the radio—the first wireless electronic communications system. 1906 - The first commercial wireless voice transmitting system utilizing electromagnetic waves, the radio, was...
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... Specific Purpose: This is to inform my audience of the life of Alexander Graham Bell and his contributions to the field of Communications. Introduction: In 1876, at the age of 29, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. In 1877, he formed the Bell Telephone Company. He would continue to test out new ideas through a long and productive life. He would explore the realm of communications as well as engage in a great variety of scientific activities involving kites, airplanes, structures, sheep-breeding, artificial respiration, and water distillation. There are many topics of interest that should be discussed, but for this presentation I will focus on three main points which are: A. Early years and education B. Invention of the telephone C. Contributions and effect the telephone had on the ease to communicate Body: 1. During his youth, Alexander Graham Bell experienced significant influences that would carry into his adult life. One was his hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, known as the "Athens of the North," for its rich culture of arts and science. Another was his grandfather, Alexander Bell, a well-known professor. Alexander's mother also had a profound influence on him, being a proficient pianist despite her deafness. This taught Alexander to look past people's disadvantages and find solutions to help them. 2. In the 1870s, two inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically...
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...Researching a famous engineer: Alexander Graham Bell (March 3, 1847 – August 2, 1922) Introduction Alexander Graham Bell was not just an engineer. But he was an inventor, scientist, the teacher of the deaf and professor of Vocal Physiology at Boston University. He is well known for his invention of the telephone. Body His other inventions were groundbreaking work in optical telecommunications, hydrofoils and aeronautics. On March 10, 1876 the classic story of his crying out "Watson, come here! I want to see you!" is a well-known part of American history. That was the first successful bi-directional transmission of clear speech by Bell and Watson. His was awarded the first US patent for the telephone in 1876. The Bell Telephone Company was created in 1877, and by 1886 more than 150,000 people in U.S. owned telephones. There was some alternative available for communication at that time. From smoke signals to semaphore, from signposts to sending letters via messenger, gradually we have discovered faster and more effective means of communicating. Before the invention of the telephone, sounds cannot transmit in a very broad distance. After the invention, communication was a breeze through. It is easy but still, it became more and more necessary to communicate instantly as times goes by. Telephones are decreasing in size and becoming more practical. Conclusion The discovery is still useful today on everyone daily basis...
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...emphatic imperative of halôn, holôn to fetch, used especially in hailing a ferryman."[6] It also connects the development of hello to the influence of an earlier form, holla, whose origin is in the French holà (roughly, 'whoa there!', from French là 'there').[7] As in addition to hello, halloo,[8] hallo, hollo, hullo and (rarely) hillo also exist as variants or related words, the word can be spelt using any of all five vowels.[citation needed] Telephone The use of hello as a telephone greeting has been credited to Thomas Edison; according to one source, he expressed his surprise with a misheard Hullo.[9] Alexander Graham Bell initially used Ahoy (as used on ships) as a telephone greeting.[10][11] However, in 1877, Edison wrote to T.B.A. David, the president of the Central District and Printing Telegraph Company of Pittsburgh: Friend David, I do not think we shall need a call bell as Hello! can be heard 10 to 20 feet away. What you think? Edison - P.S. first cost of sender & receiver to manufacture is only $7.00.[12] By 1889, central telephone exchange operators were known as 'hello-girls' due to the association between the greeting and the...
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...Essay – Time and Distance Overcome The human has been created by nature to be a curious creature. By following our instincts the human has been able to discovering all sorts of new technologies and therefore it has been a phenomenon in the modern world, as we know it today. Alexander Graham Bell, who lived in the 18th century, invented in 1876 the first telephone ever sawn. But like every other inventions he had to overcome some obstacles before the phone became accepted. The story of the telephone is described in the text “Time and Distance Overcome” by Eula Biss, written in 2008. Today we could not imagine a world without telephones, but it was a completely different story in 1876 when Bell invented the telephone. “The idea on which the telephone depended, (...) seemed far more unlikely than the idea that the human voice could be transmitted through a wire”. In the beginning you could see the telephone demonstrated by Bell in a church for twenty-five cents, and quickly thereafter the telephone became a plaything for the rich people. But in 1889 The New York Times was reporting a “War on Telephone Poles” where “homeowners and business owners were sawing them down”, and judges found people who had sawed the poles down, “not guilty of malicious mischief”. Not only were people not interested in the idea, they went to extreme lengths in order to prevent telephone poles from being erected e.g. defending their sidewalks with rifles. The war continued but worse had yet to come....
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