The Birth of the Telephone

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented a 'talking device' which could transmit a human voice to a listener.
However, Bell's device produced an extremely weak flow of audio current from the sending device, accompanied by a high level of static that made it difficult to hear. Research in transmitters continued until in 1878 Thomas Edison invented the carbon transmitter, a more practical device with much better characteristics which is still used today. The principle of the receiver has not changed.


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How the Bell Telephone works

Alexander Graham Bell
Born in Great Britain in 1847, Bell came to the U.S. at age 26 as professor of vocal physiology at Boston University.


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