Invention of the telephone Flynn Godwin November 2016

Before mobile phones: What was it like to communicate? The history of the public telephone actually begins in the late 1880's but it was not until the early 1900's that telephone kiosks started to appear. Many early kiosks were silence cabinets which were commonly inside shops & other public places and had attendants who would do most of the work for you. Of the street kiosks, there were many different designs, often localised to specific towns, Birmingham & Norwich each producing their own designs. In 1921, the first standard kiosk would appear, the 'K1'. It was adapted from the Birmingham model and would later be redesigned with a different window frame. Many places would only have the kiosks in their own colours and in some cases, modifications were made to boxes. A well known example of this was Eastbourne, which had 2 K1 kiosks with thatched roofs.

What are modern mobile telephones like? A mobile phone is a portable telephone that can make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while the user is moving within a telephone service area. In addition to telephony, 2000s-era mobile phones support a variety of other services, such as text messaging, MMS, email, Internet access, short-range wireless communications (infrared, Bluetooth), business applications, gaming, and digital photography. Mobile phones which offer these and more general computing capabilities are referred to as smartphones.

What might mobiles look like in the future? From dual rear cameras to flexible screens, here are some of the technologies that will change the way you use your phone this year. 1 Take better photos The photos you take on your mobile phone could be about to undergo a revolution in quality – with top smartphones adding a second camera on the rear. Adding a second camera produces far sharper pictures, without adding extra bulk to the phone. “Stitching together” two images vastly improves image quality. 2 Play clearer-sounding music Some people choose a phone for its camera but others prize sound quality more highly. There are now phones – such as the one by Marshall amps – to cater specifically for audiophiles. The big sellers also score highly in sound-quality tests, and this year that quality will get a boost as wireless Bluetooth headsets begin to take over from the traditional sort that plugged into the stereo port.

4. ‘Smartlets’ that fold in half 3. Enjoy virtual reality Most of us are used to buying headphones to go with our new phone – but how about a virtual reality headset? Much of the hype around virtual reality has revolved around expensive systems such as the £500 Oculus Rift – but new smartphones will offer far cheaper ways to enjoy VR. 4. ‘Smartlets’ that fold in half Forget phones, tablets and phablets, the next big thing could be “smartlets” – phones that unfold into tablets. Samsung is rumoured to be planning a wave of bendy-screened gadgets, according to analyst reports, and it could be a “game changer” – with devices possibly going on sale early in 2017. According to company sources speaking to Bloomberg earlier this year, one such device is a 5in handset that “unfolds” into a larger 8in tablet. Another device folds in half like a compact mirror. So… What would you like to see on mobile phones in the future?