BLOG POST #4

 Innovation of The Radio

Over the centuries, we have seen many changes. Phones became handheld, fashion trends came and went, and cars became more advanced along with so much more. Advancements in technology allowed our society to prosper and evolve to better fit our needs and conveniences. The biggest noticeable change had to do with how we communicated with one another. One of the most significant developments in communication came in 1896 when the radio was invented. In 1869, Italian inventor and electrical engineer, Guglielmo Marconi patented the first edition of radio or wireless telegraph. Now this radio isn't like the one we see today, it didn't transmit voice just a signal. Transmission of voice via the radio would come along in the early 1900's.

Timeline of The Radio

• 1873- James Clerk Maxwell correctly theorized that electromagnetic (e/m) waves existed mathematically
• 1888- Heinrich Hertz detects and produces radio waves
• 1894- Guglielmo Marconi builds his first radio equipment, a device that will ring a bell from 30 feet away
• 1896- Guglielmo Marconi patents his version of the radio
• 1897- Guglielmo Marconi demonstrates radio waves can travel over water
• 1899- The first international wireless transmission between England and France
• 1900- Nikola Tesla gets a U.S. patent for "system of transmitting electrical energy" and "an electrical transmitter" for his version of the radio
• 1901- Guglielmo Marconi sends first transAtlantic signal from Ireland to Canada
• 1904- Sir John Ambrose Fleming invents the vacuum diode which reliably detects radio waves
• 1904- First radio transmission of music at Graz, Austria
• 1906- Lee De Forest invents the Audion or a sensitive receiver
• 1914- Alternators were built that could sustain a consistent broadcast wave powerful enough to transmit voices and music over thousands of miles
• 1917- While serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I, Edwin Howard Armstrong invents the superheterodyne circuit which dramatically improves the reception of radio signals by reducing static and increasing selectivity and amplification
• 1922- There are 576 licensed radio broadcasters
• 1933- Edwin Howard Armstrong develops FM (frequency modulation) radio as a solution to the static interference problem that plagues AM radio transmission
• 1947- John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley of Bell Laboratories co-invent the transistor
• 1954- Regency Electronic introduces the first all transistor radio
• 1954- The number of radio receivers in the world exceeds the number of newspapers printed daily

History

Guglielmo Marconi and his radio

It is often debated about who is the real inventor of the radio, Guglielmo Marconi or Nikola Tesla. Though Marconi was the first to put the theory of radio waves to practice, the groundwork was laid out by James Clerk Maxwell, Heinrich Hertz, and Nikola Tesla. You see, four years before Marconi was experimenting with his invention, Tesla had already invented a theoretical model for the radio. Tesla invented the Tesla coil that converted low-voltage current to high frequencies. However, when it came time for Marconi to patent his version of the radio, Tesla had no working model. Years passed and both men went on to use their models of the radio to its fullest potential, this means they stepped over each other's feet more than a couple times. This led to many lawsuits between the two and a competitive rivalry for the title of the inventor of the radio. Tesla tried, unsuccessfully, to obtain a court injunction against Marconi in 1915.

Radio patent

Marconi was inspired by Heinrich Hertz’s discovery of radio waves and its potential to be used for sending and receiving telegraph messages. In 1896, Marconi sent out his first radio transmission which was just coded signals that transmitted only about a mile far. What might not seem like far, gave him a good place to start. Building on that, he opened the first radio factory in Chelmsford, Essex and established a radio link between Britain and France. It wouldn't be until 1901 when the United States would also establish a link. Due to his contribution of technology, Marconi would go on to win the Nobel prize for his wireless telegraph.

Just before World War I, companies like American Telephone and Telegraph, General Electric, and Westinghouse were attempting to develop the potential use of wireless communication so it could broadcast more sophisticated messages than just the regular dots and dashes in morse code. In 1914, Reginald Fessenden built alternators that could support a continuous broadcast wave powerful enough to transmit voices and music over thousands of miles. This was revolutionary because it allowed for more complex messages to be sent which aided in not only the public's general pleasure and entertainment but also had the capabilities to be used elsewhere. For example, the military used radios for the purpose of relaying wartime news in a timely manner to the vessels out at sea or to warn soldiers of an eminent attack. The radio proved to be an extremely useful tool to them.

The Boom of The Radio

It wasn't until around the 1920's that radio became popular amongst the general public. As time went on, more and more people saw it as crucial for receiving entertainment and news programs. By 1939, this "Golden Age of Radio" had nearly 80% of the United Sates population owning a radio. With this rush to purchase radios, businesses and social structures had to adapt to the new medium.

• Universities began to offer radio-based courses
• churches began broadcasting their services
• newspapers created tie-ins with radio broadcasts

By 1922, there were 576 licensed radio broadcasters. The majority of listeners enjoyed hearing their favorite programs, music, and comedies/dramas. Major sports events even turned to broadcasting to reach the larger audience. Radio was definetly a key source of information for the population during this time and even now. During World War II, listeners gathered around their radio sets listening to vivid reports of victories, battles, and defeats that were broadcasted. Even today the radio is still very much relevant. We listen to radio stations while we are driving, we listen to breaking news, music, sports, drama, and so much more. Radio is something that has been around for a while and won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Thanks to the advancements of this communication device, our society has benefitted as a whole.

This is a video of the history of cinema, radio, and television (skip to 6:39 for the radio section)