Human Intelligence
Manifests Mass Communication

Part 17 - Part 16

Human Intelligence And The Phenomenon Of Induction

Human intelligence itself is a phenomenon. One individual's intellectual feat influences Intelligent Minds elsewhere without any form of Communication, in a manner corresponding to Electro-Magnetic Induction.

From the moment Michael Faraday established the Law of Inductance, Communicating with Electricity was entering Human Consciousness.

In what appears to be a logical step forward to apply the newly discovered Principles of Electricity to the benefit of Humankind, motivated Minds were investigating the concept of the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph.

But . . .

The History of the Telegraph plays out like a political thriller. It is difficult in the extreme to ascertain who deserves credit for what.

Assigning credit in a just and deserving manner, appears to be a perennial stumbling block in all matters relating to Human Advancement. From the period of Homo Habilis, to our present day efforts to move forward.

It is this author's well considered opinion this unwise situation will prevail until Humanity per se grasps how Natural Reality operates and just how the Human Mind functions within that Reality.

When Humanity does finally arrive at that exalted intellectual destination of comprehending Reality, Peace and Prosperity will be an immanent element of Life.

Persistence Pays

Many earlier attempts at Telegraphy in one form or another failed. Reasons for failure were as varied as the attempts made. Most were impractical, could not attract funding, or ignored by authorities as unnecessary.

Nevertheless, following the dissemination of the discovery, and, more to the point, a rudimentary comprehension of, the Law of Inductance, several variations of Electric Telegraphic Apparatus appeared around the World, around the same time.

Baron Pavel Schilling, (1786-1837) a Russian Diplomat, built and demonstrated a version of Electro-magnetic Telegraphy during the early 1830s.

German born Scientists Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) and Wilhelm Weber (1804-1891) built a working Electric Telegraph Line, within the grounds of Gottingen University. Also during the early 1830s.

Motives Vary

American born Physicist Joseph Henry, the man who independently discovered Induction, without receiving the same recognition as did Michael Faraday, proved his comprehension of Electricity by demonstrating how to maintain a Current over long distances. Henry did this by building an Electro-Magnetic device with which he transmitted an Electric Current over a mile of wire, to ring a bell at the far end.

Joseph Henry's achievement was fundamental to the eventual successful long distance functioning of the Electric Telegraph.

Joseph also demonstrated the first Electro-Magnet capable of producing work.

Human intelligence functions best when it is problem solving. Yet the Art of problem solving, in a Scientific manner, is an almost unrecognized path to contentment.

Which partially explains why . . .

As much as Technology and Innovation may benefit our species, it should be acknowledged that the overriding motivator for many marketers is the Desire for wealth.

The drawback of this Attitude is many inferior products see the light of day. Suffocating their superior cousins that take much more effort to bring to fruition, but in the long run would not merely be more effective, but importantly, represent better value for money.

Kudos Goes To . . .

The mad scramble to market a product can take precedence over quality. Yet ironically the kudos often goes to the players who are the first to register with the Conscious Awareness of the consumer.

Occasionally, as was the situation with the Electric Telegraph, the kudos fades, and attention is paid to a superior contender.

The first to commercialize this novel manner of communicating were two keen, enterprising Englishmen. Charles Wheatstone, (1802-1875) and William Cooke (1806-1879)

Physicist and Inventor, Wheatstone was awarded a knighthood for his generous contributions towards Physics.

Charles was the Scientist who determined Electricity possessed Velocity and was not instantaneous. The Velocity of Electricity varies and is dependent on the Conductor and its Environment.

Wheatstone's Electric Telegraph functioned on a system of five needles on separate circuits. The needles were on a dial with the letters of the alphabet so arranged that when the circuit was made, via a make or break switch, two of the needles would be deflected to point at a letter of the alphabet.

Although the complete alphabet was not represented, it was possible to decipher complete words. Electrically, Wheatstone's system was not dissimilar to the Code of Samuel Morse.

Horses For Courses

William Cooke, knighted like Wheatstone, was an Army Officer who possessed an inventive bent and had built his own version of an Electric Telegraph after a fortuitous exposure to a model of Pavel Schilling's device.

Forming a partnership, Wheatstone and Cooke were granted joint Patents on their respective offerings.

Cooke, not withstanding his appreciation of the immensity of the influence their invention would have on the World, was, by his own admission, only in it for the money.

While Cooke made a modest contribution technically to their undertaking his true expertise lay in Business Administration. This Cooke consummately took care of. Paradoxically, dealing with the administrative side of business was quite repugnant to Wheatstone.

Shy Fellow

A naturally quiet fellow, and quite likely an introvert, Charles Wheatstone immersed himself in the technical undertakings of their partnership. He monopolized his Human intelligence by improving his Telegraphy device and also developing other inventions.

Useful inventions such as the Wheatstone Bridge, an instrument, which, during this author's Telephony years, was found to be all but indispensable when tracking down open circuits in underground Telephone line cables.

In the meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Charles Wheatstone's greatest competitor to be, Samuel Morse, was likewise immersed in Thinking original Thoughts.

Magnanimous Human Intelligence Rocks!

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