Cabling of the sea: the birth of global communications.
11/26/2001
Single inventions can radically change the world. One such invention, "the underwater cable," is being celebrated in an online exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum's site. Notes the curator: "A century and a half ago, the world suddenly became smaller when an underwater telegraph cable joined two nations divided by the sea." The site provides extensive information on the invention and evolution of the underwater cable (the cables initially allowed continents to communicate by telegraph) and an in-depth explanation of the technical issues. Equally well represented is a discussion of the impact on the world of this new 'instantaneous' communication. Featuring books, manuscripts, and artifacts from the Smithsonian's extensive collections, the site is full of interesting objects and historical information.