The Telephone and Associated Devices

In March of 1876, when Alexander Graham Bell called to his assistant on the telephone he had just invented, he could never have predicted what an important instru­ment he had just created. U.S. president Rutherford Hayes said, "That's an amazing in­vention, but who would ever want to use one of them?" However, he soon changed his tune. In 1878, he had a telephone installed at the White House. He immediately put in a call - to Alexander Graham Bell.

Perhaps no invention has affected daily life as much as the telephone. In its early years, it enabled people to talk to each other without having to travel long distances by foot or horseback. Later, it provided a means of transmitting news and other important information all around the world instantly. And today it provides the means for millions of people to communicate with each other directly or via the Internet.

Wireless portable phones (usually called cellular or cell phones in the U.S.) provide people with peace of mind because they can quickly contact others in case of an emergency even when no wired phone is nearby. People also use cell phones for less dramatic pur­poses. Many people chat with friends or check in on their kids as they walk along the street or shop. Ownership of these telephones greatly expanded between 1990 and 2000. In 1988, there were about 2 million in use, mostly by businesspeople and profes­sionals who needed to keep in touch with their offices and clients. Today, more than 80 million cell phones are owned and used by people all over the U.S. Cell phone usage has increased because the cost has decreased to the point where most people can af­ford it. When first introduced, cell phones cost more than S 1,000, and the per-minute rate made them impractical for most individuals. Today, many companies give the phones away or sell them at very low prices. The cost of air time also has dropped.

The quality of cell phones has also significantly improved. In the past, people speaking from wireless telephones were often difficult to hear and, frequently, the signal would be lost. Today's phones produce sound quality equal to wired telephones, and the connections are much more reliable. It is now possible, with some new phones, to connect to the Internet.

Cell phones can also be nuisances. Many theaters and libraries have signs asking that cell phones be turned off. A famous Broadway actor actually stopped a performance when somebody's cell phone rang! People using cell phones while driving can be dan­gerous. They are engrossed in conversation instead of concentrating on their driving. Some states are considering laws to prohibit talking on the phone while driving.

Another popular method of high-tech communication is the pager, often referred to as a "beeper." It is a small device usually hooked onto one's belt or carried in one's purse. A person wishing to contact someone phones that person's pager. When the pager receives the message, it beeps to let the owner know that someone is trying to get in touch. A display on the pager shows the caller's telephone number. More sophisti­cated pagers display a message from the caller. Pagers were originally used primarily by physicians who needed to be reached in emergencies. Today, pagers are commonly used by many businesspeople to talk with customers. Parents also use them to relay mes­sages to their children and vice versa.

Two other communication devices that have come into common usage are the answering machine and its cousin, voice mail. The answering machine gives callers a recorded message telling them to leave a name and telephone number. At one time, many people considered the use of answering machines rude. Today, most people con­sider the lack of an answering machine inconsiderate since, without it, the caller cannot leave a message for a person who is away. Voice mail also provides a message and a chance to leave a message. It is more often used by businesses because it can also channel callers through a series of messages to the department that will best serve the callers' needs. Voice mail can be very frustrating to people who want to speak to an ac­tual person immediately.

Check your comprehension.

Why are cell phones so popular? List four uses of them.