History Of Networks

Summary

In the 1860s, New Zealand faced the challenge of slow communication, but the advent of the telegraph in 1862 revolutionized electronic communication with Morse code. Despite initial setbacks, the North Island eventually connected, and by 1902, the world embraced the telephone. Radio emerged post-WWI, evolving from serious broadcasts to entertainment. Television arrived in 1960, followed by the Internet's birth and the World Wide Web in 1991, transforming global information sharing. Today, smartphones epitomize New Zealand's journey from coded messages to global connectivity, making distance irrelevant.

Takeaways

• 📜 In the 1860s, New Zealand faced a communication challenge with slow snail mail, leading to the establishment of the first telegraph line in 1862 between Littleton and Christchurch.
• 💬 The telegraph used Morse code, a system of dots and dashes, to represent the alphabet and quickly communicate messages, even though the first message to Mr. Oakes in Christchurch was unfortunate news.
• 🌐 Telegraph lines expanded across the South Island but faced challenges connecting the North Island, with cable issues and shortages, before finally establishing a connection a decade later.
• 📞 The invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1902 marked the end of Morse code's dominance, with Charles a Henry making his own telephone from magazine instructions, leading to the opening of telephone exchanges.
• 📡 After World War I, soldiers discovered the power of radio for sending urgent messages, which later became regulated by the government and used for entertainment, including live broadcasts of the All Blacks rugby matches.
• 📻 The first live public radio broadcast of a rugby match between the All Blacks and the British in 1930, despite the All Blacks' loss, marked the beginning of the broadcast age in New Zealand.
• 📺 Television was introduced to New Zealand on June 1, 1960, with the first households receiving moving pictures, offering a new form of entertainment and information.
• 🌟 The launch of the first satellite network, SAT.1, allowed New Zealanders to connect with global events in real time, enhancing their communication capabilities.
• 💻 The arrival of the first electronic computer, the IBM 650, in New Zealand led to the linking of computers for information sharing, which was the precursor to the birth of the Internet.
• 🌐 In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web, allowing users to share a wide range of information via computers, thus creating a single global information space.
• 📱 The advent of smartphone technology in 2005 enabled New Zealanders to interact online from various locations, showcasing the evolution from simple coded messages to global connectivity.

Q & A

In which decade was the first telegraph line built in New Zealand?

The first telegraph line was built in the 1860s.

What was the purpose of the first telegraph line between Littleton and Christchurch?

The purpose was to enable faster communication between Kiwis using Morse code, as snail mail could take months for a reply.

What was the first message sent using the telegraph line to Mr. Oakes in Christchurch?

The content of the first message is not specified in the script, but it is mentioned that it was not good news.

What challenges were faced in connecting the North Island with telegraph lines?

Challenges included cable snapping and running out of cable, which took 10 years to overcome.

When did New Zealand connect to the world through the telegraph system?

New Zealand connected to the world in 1902.

Who launched the telephone and what were his famous words?

Alexander Graham Bell launched the telephone with the words 'to meet an electrician and all-around smartypants'.

How did Charles A Henry make his own telephone?

Charles A Henry made his own telephone from instructions out of a magazine.

What was the significance of the first live broadcast of a Rugby test between the All Blacks and the British lines?

The significance was that it marked the beginning of the broadcast age in New Zealand, showcasing the power of radio to entertain.

When did television first beam into households in New Zealand?

Television first started beaming into households in New Zealand on the 1st of June 1960.

What was the impact of the first satellite network, Sat.1, on New Zealand's connectivity?

The launch of the first satellite network, Sat.1, helped Kiwis connect with events happening in real time around the world.

What major development in electronic communication occurred in 1991 that changed the way information was shared globally?

In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web, allowing connected users to share all sorts of information via their computers, creating a single global information space.

How has electronic communication in New Zealand evolved from the 1800s to the present?

Electronic communication in New Zealand has evolved from simple coded messages like Morse code to global connectivity with the advent of the World Wide Web and smartphone technology, making distance and place irrelevant.