Difference between revisions of "325--Week 8 Questions/Comments"
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It's weird to think of such a famous engineer restoring to "spiritual" remedies to technological malfunctions. Ronell refers to Watson seeking a consult with a medium so as to enlist the spirits in giving their work on the telephone a boost. I find it funny, both that Watson was so disgusted he refused to do so again, and that Bell avoided the project from the beginning. It makes me wonder what Bell thought of Watson, and how their working relationship was, if Ronell is right in indicating that Bell thought Watson's beliefs were quackery. -- Matt S | It's weird to think of such a famous engineer restoring to "spiritual" remedies to technological malfunctions. Ronell refers to Watson seeking a consult with a medium so as to enlist the spirits in giving their work on the telephone a boost. I find it funny, both that Watson was so disgusted he refused to do so again, and that Bell avoided the project from the beginning. It makes me wonder what Bell thought of Watson, and how their working relationship was, if Ronell is right in indicating that Bell thought Watson's beliefs were quackery. -- Matt S | ||
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| + | I was particularly fascinated by the concept of an 'autograph telegraph', as mentioned on pg. 248. Often times we discuss the technology with potential for success that was neglected in favor of other alternatives. I thought that this warranted further explanation than the three sentences it received. This device, according to Ronell, was capable of transmitting facsimile writing and pictures as early as the 1870's. Was the demand for such communication that low, or did other fundamental problems prevent this autograph telegraph from working properly? At what point did this form of communication, which Bell favored as a use of his telegraph, get neglected? -Adam Shlossman | ||
== Venus Green, Personal Service in the Bell System == | == Venus Green, Personal Service in the Bell System == | ||
