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Who Really Invented The Telegraph?

Posted by timothy on from the trick-question dept.

Fat Boy unslim writes "It's been 250 years since the publication of a paper describing the theory behind sending messages down a wire using electricity. Unfortunately, no one knows who wrote it." If you thought the answer was as simple as "Morse," this article may come as a surprise.

3 of 281 comments (clear)

  1. Uh-oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    How long before this site is slash-dot-dot-dot-dash-dot-dash-dotted?

  2. Re:Had to be Al Gores great great great grandfathe by loknor · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not sure who invented it but I think I know what one of the first messages was:

    Dear Sir

    I am calling to help you lower your long distance calling rates

    Please respond

    --

    me karma am bad
  3. Could the telegraph be invented today? by ThinkingGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    A random thought that occurred to me while reading the article: If the telegraph were invented for the first time today, would it have a chance of being successful?
    Naturally there would be the big patent fight, with various people and corporations suing back and forth, claiming credit for the invention. But even if that were settled, think of the resistance that there would be to the (new) idea of setting poles with wires strung between them:

    Environmental groups: "Birds will be tangled in the wires.. and what about the effects of EMF on children?"

    Religous groups: "God didn't mean for man to be able to communicate with other men in an instant fashion. The telegraph is an instrument of the devil!"

    Rich people: "I don't want those ugly poles and wires in my neighborhood. They'll lower my property values!"

    Poor people: "It's only rich people who can afford to send telegraphs, but they run all the wires through our neighborhoods. It's discrimination!"