The Moment Communication Went Global

The video explores the evolution of communication from the mid-19th century, focusing on the invention of the electric telegraph and the ambitious project led by Cyrus West Field to lay a transatlantic cable. This achievement revolutionized global communication, reducing message delivery time from weeks to seconds. Despite initial failures, the successful connection between Newfoundland and Ireland marked a new era of instant communication. The video also highlights the legacy of this innovation, leading to today's extensive undersea cable networks that support global data traffic.

What was the primary limitation of long-distance communication before the invention of the electric telegraph?

• Messages were too expensive to send.

• Messages were often lost during delivery.

• Messages could only be sent during daylight.

• Messages had to be delivered in person, limited by travel speed.

Who was the entrepreneur behind the ambitious project to lay a telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean?

• Cyrus West Field

• Thomas Edison

• Nikola Tesla

• Alexander Graham Bell

What was one of the major challenges faced during the laying of the transatlantic cable?

• Opposition from European governments

• Shortage of skilled engineers

• Lack of funding from investors

• Technical difficulties in laying the cable across the ocean floor

What was the significance of the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable?

• It enabled instant sharing of information like stock prices and news.

• It was the first use of wireless communication.

• It allowed for the first international phone call.

• It marked the beginning of satellite communication.

Despite the perception of a wireless world, what percentage of data traffic crossing the oceans is still carried by undersea cables?

• 50%

• 75%

• 99%

• 100%