The Northern News 1844 | Page 13

Remember the Telegraph

13

Remember the breakthrough invention from 1836 the telegraph? Now newest breakthrough in communication is here. Imagine being able to send a photo from New York to Philadelphia in minutes! This new invention by Alexander Bain is based off of Samuel Morse’s telegraph by sending the same sort of electrical impulses through a wire. It works by translating a photo onto a copper sheet and having a pendulum (which is also synchronised to another pendulum at a separate location) pass over the copper image. Each time that the pendulum touches the copper lines of the picture it sends an electrical impulse to the second pendulum, this second pendulum then reciprocates the electrical impulse onto a piece of paper that has been treated with nitrate and ammonia which results in a blue stain when it gets hit with the electrical impulse. Now your letters and pictures can be sent throughout the country making communication easier. How can technology get any better than this?

Julia Monachesi