Comments on: “What use has this company for an electrical toy?” https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/ Sat, 16 Oct 2010 18:31:43 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 By: warhammer tyranid https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524469 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 18:31:43 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524469 Educational toys are tools of play designed to develop motor skills, cognitive powers and emotions. Other toys may simply be fun. Too often, the label ‘educational’ is attached to toys regardless whether or not the toy was actually designed to ‘teach’ the child a skill or ability. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing gimmick to command a higher price.

]]> By: Chris Winter https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524468 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 21:39:06 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524468

In response to Mr. Bell’s demonstration of the audiophone, the mayor of one of our major metropolitan areas was extremely impressed, expressing his enthusiasm as: “Why I can foresee the day when every city will have one!”

About the same time, however, the Post Master General of Great Britain was less intrigued with the new device and could not see any reason why it should receive any attention what-so-ever. “It may be all very well for the colonists,” the Post Master General offered with judicious consideration, “but we (the British) have quite enough messenger boys.”

From the bottom of this page:

http://www.ezzell.org/Error%20Messages/historical_examples.htm

]]> By: John https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524467 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:59:29 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524467 I’m always amused to hear a cell phone announcing an incoming SMS message: … – – …

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524466 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:16:01 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524466 Bob: Yes, and when you in NY were speaking to your cousin in SF, that was being done over a continuous wired connection running all 3,200 miles (or more, as the wire goes) between the two connections, like two cans and a string but with electricity.

]]> By: Onkel Bob https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524465 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:46:25 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524465 I always thought the funniest story in telecom was that the invention of the step switch, the device that allows you the user to select the number you want to call, was prompted by the suspicions (paranoid delusions?) of an undertaker.
As you probably know, the first telephone switch was a human – you called the operator and asked to be connected to a number/party. This Kansas City undertaker was convinced that the operators were directing traffic towards his competitor in town and wanted to make a device where you could select the number / party with whom to connect by dialing a number. I imagine if you consult the all-knowing Wiki/Google you’ll find his name.
That clicking sound you heard on old pulse phones (before Dual Tone Multi-Frequency DTMF we use today) was the relays rotating around. When they reach the end, the number was connected.

]]> By: cctmsp13 https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524464 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 21:57:39 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524464 Many of us are carrying around cellular telegraphs, we just call it “text messaging” now.

]]> By: Drivebyposter https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524463 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 19:24:39 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524463 Or, due to the absence of a convenient method of communication, someone could have perfected telepathy and we could talk without ANY gadgets.
Damn you Alexander Graham Bell, DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524462 Sat, 09 Oct 2010 18:47:21 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524462 That would be funny, but we wouldn’t know it was funny.

]]> By: Origuy https://gregladen.com/blog/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524461 Sat, 09 Oct 2010 18:34:26 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2010/10/09/what-use-has-this-company-for/#comment-524461 We could all be carrying around cellular telegraphs!

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