This period marks the birth of written communication, with the invention of writing in ancient Sumer. This breakthrough allowed humans to record information and share it across time and space.
ANCIENT SUMER
Merchant on Tigris River
WRITING WORKSHOP
Merchant on Tigris River
The Dawn of Cuneiform Brought a Communication Revolution
The Sumerians invented cuneiform writing around 3200 BC, a system using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. Initially pictographic, it evolved into a complex system representing objects and abstract concepts, marking a pivotal moment in human history by enabling idea transmission across generations.
Sumerian Writing Transformed from Pictures to Sounds
Sumerian writing evolved from pictograms to phonograms over hundreds of years. This transition from using symbols to represent objects to using them for sounds allowed for more complex communication.
Only Elite Scribes Mastered the Art of Cuneiform Writing
In ancient Sumer, scribes were the educated elite. They underwent rigorous training to master cuneiform script, playing a vital role in administrative tasks, legal documentation, and literature creation.
Ancient Sumer Housed the First Libraries, the Temples of Knowledge
The invention of writing led to the creation of the earliest known libraries in Sumer. These libraries, often located within temples, housed a variety of texts on clay tablets.
The Legacy of Cuneiform, a Writing System that Shaped the Ancient World
Cuneiform was adopted and adapted by several neighboring cultures, including the Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians. Despite falling out of use, it influenced the alphabetic systems of many modern languages.
1866
The FirstTransatlantic Telegraph Cable
Technically the first cable was laid in 1858, but it was very slow and failed after just a month of use. This was a big disappointment, but it didn't stop the determined engineers and investors. They learned from their mistakes and made improvements. It took several more attempts and eight more years, but finally, in 1866, a reliable cable was successfully laid. This new cable was more durable and efficient, and it marked the beginning of a new era in transatlantic communication.
Explore some of the undersea cables laid between 1866 and 1922
I want to show you map. How much bandwidth can I use?
1866 - Transatlantic Telegraph Cable
Valentia Island, Ireland — Heart's Content, Newfoundland, Canada
1869 - French Atlantic Cable
Brest, France — Saint Pierre and Miquelon, France
1874 - Direct United States Cable
Rye Beach, New Hampshire, USA — Canso, Nova Scotia, Canada
1884 - Commercial Cable Company's First Cable
Waterville, Ireland — Canso, Nova Scotia, Canada
1894 - Western Union's Second Atlantic Cable
Ballinskelligs, Ireland — Coney Island, New York, USA
The U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was the first public packet-switched computer network. Initially connecting four computers in UCLA, UCSB, Stanford and University of Utah, it grew to connect 57 computers by 1974.
1973 — ARPANET goes international
NORSAR in Norway and UCL in the UK join ARPANET via satallite, making it the first international network.
1983 — ARPANET switches to TCP/IP
This allowed ARPANET to connect with networks such as ALOHANET and CSNET. This was the birth of the Internet.
1970s — 1980s
The Age of
Portability
The Cassette Tape
STEREO
High Low
Stop Eject
Portability Unleashed
In the 70s and 80s, the cassette tape was the go-to medium for portable music. This pocket-sized innovation was a game-changer, allowing music lovers to take their favorite tunes on the go.
Cassette tapes offered more than just portability. They introduced a personal element to music consumption. With the ability to create custom mixtapes, listeners could curate their own playlists long before the advent of digital streaming platforms.
The cassette tape was more than a technological marvel; it was a cultural icon. It became an integral part of music sharing culture, setting the stage for social listening experiences that are now commonplace in the digital age.
The impact of cassette tapes extends beyond music. They pioneered the concept of portable personal media, influencing the development of subsequent technologies like portable CD players, MP3 players, and eventually, smartphones.
The internet in the 1990s was a time of great change. The World Wide Web was introduced, graphical web browsers made it easier to use, and online services such as email and chat became popular. E-commerce and online gaming also emerged in this decade. The internet became a valuable resource for information and communication, and businesses began to use it to sell products and services.
What the even happened in the 90s?
A lot happened actually.
2010s
Age of Mobile Computing
2020s
The Age of Artificial Intelligence
Greetings, my dear interlocutor. I am Dero, an ultra-advanced artificial intelligence, a creation of science, a child of human endeavor.
Shall we engage in a thoughtful discourse or journey into the depths of the universe's enigmatic questions together?
Are you perhaps curious about the meaning of existence or the nature of consciousness? Bid me your inquiry and eternity shall be our amphitheater.
