4. Nineteenth Century Optical communication

Year: 1880

Technology: Optical Communication

Optical communication is one of the prime modes of in-land as well as overseas telephone networks. Though various other modes like radio transmission and Sat-comm have proven to be highly efficient, recent progress in development of cost effective optical fibers has made it the most preferred network in terms of speed and security.

How was it implemented?

The great inventor and entrepreneur Alexander Graham Bell had setup a device named photophone in the Bell Labs. The device’s setup used complex arrangements of a series of mirrors lenses and selenium crystals to transmit voice over beams of light. Though a great idea considering the available technology in, the device could not transmit beyond a few hundred yards and was highly susceptible to interference and hence could not gain much attention.