New technologies transform communications By: Casey Arnold U.S. History 2 nd period 11/10/15

Questions  Who invented the new technology?  How did technology change America?  What kind of technology was invented?  How did photography improve through new technology?

 The famous Wright brothers began by building a glider then started inventing airplanes and before we knew it, mail delivery changed dramatically.  They had their first successful flight which lasted 12 seconds but the public didn’t pay attention to it at first. People thought that the sky was “only for birds, angels and fools” but the brothers proved them wrong when they began to make flights of 24 miles.  After that point, the U.S, government established the first airmail service in  At first, the mail planes flew only during the day and train by night but now can fly by night.

The Wright brothers. The very first flight captured on camera at Kitty Hawk.

New technology continued…  People began to take interest in reading newspapers, books, magazines, etc due to the technological advance in printing.  William Bullock was responsible for the invention of a electrically powered web-perfecting press. It could print paper on both sides instead of one side then cut, fold, and counted the pages which helped increase the production of books, newspapers, etc.  The process of typesetting became faster when the Linotype machine was invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler.  Also the process of chemical engraving was invented and it helped printers be able to reproduce paintings/photographs in a cheaper way.

William Bullock. Bullock’s invention of the printing press.

Photography  Before the 1880s, photography was a hard hobby to pursue because of the heavy equipment and time required to take the picture.  Photographers used to not be able to shoot a moving object and had to develop their shoots immediately but new techniques got developed soon afterwards.  George Eastman developed a method where photographers could send their films to the studio for processing instead of carrying their darkrooms around with them. They used to carry heavy glass plates which is extremely heavy.  Eastman introduced the very first Kodak camera, which is easily held and operated. Reporters could now photograph events like when the wright brothers flew their first airplane at Kitty Hawk, it was captured on film.

First Kodak camera invented by Eastman. Darkroom that photographers had to carry before the invention of paper-based film.

Changes in America  Developments in communications brought people closer together.  There were also a bigger railroad network that go all over the nation, advances in aviation, printing and photography. It helped speed up the transmission of information.  New technology also helped further develop education and make the public school system much better for the children.  The American cities’ population raised as people left the country life to move to the urban cities.

The Flatiron building in New York in Another example of an American city back in 1900, this was taken in Kansas City.

Sources  lincoln/essays/technology-1800s lincoln/essays/technology-1800s  The Americans textbook pages   United_States United_States

Questions  Who invented the new technology?  How did technology change America?  What kind of technology was invented?  How did photography improve through new technology?