- Hydraulic telegraph
The hydraulic telegraph was a semaphore system invented in the 4th century BC by
Aeneas Tacticus ; according toPolybius , it was used during theFirst Punic War to send messages betweenSicily andCarthage .The system involved identical containers on separate hills; each container would be filled with water, and a vertical rod floated within. The rods were inscribed with various predetermined
code s.To send a message, the sending operator would use a torch to signal the receiving operator; once the two were synchronized, they would simultaneously open the
spigot s at the bottom of their containers. Water would drain out until the water level reached the desired code, at which point the sender would lower his torch, and the operators would simultaneously close their spigots.External links
* [http://www.ote.gr/oteweb/english/communication/t_museum1.htm Greek Museum of Telecommunications]
* [http://www.connected-earth.com/Galleries/Telecommunicationsage/Thetelegraph/Firststeps/index.htm Connected Earth]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Telegraph (disambiguation) — Telegraph may be:Telegraphy, class of means of long distance communication: *Electrical telegraph, a form of telegraph that uses electric signals *Optical telegraph, a semaphore based system *Hydraulic telegraph, a telegraph based on seeing how… … Wikipedia
Electrical telegraph — A printing electrical telegraph receiver, and a transmitter key at bottom right An electrical telegraph is a telegraph that uses electrical signals, usually conveyed via telecommunication lines or radio. The electromagnetic telegraph is a device… … Wikipedia
Russian–American Telegraph — Painting of men working on the Collins Overland telegraph line, by John Clayton White. The Russian–American Telegraph, also known as the Western Union Telegraph Expedition and the Collins Overland Telegraph, was a $3,000,000 undertaking by the… … Wikipedia
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone — NTT redirects here. For other uses, see NTT (disambiguation). Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation 日本電信電話株式会社 Type Public Traded as TYO … Wikipedia
New England Telephone and Telegraph Company — The New England Telephone and Telegraph Company was a very early company set up to develop the then new telephone. New England Telephone and Telegraph lasted only a year as a separate entity, from 1878 to 1879, and had no direct relationship with … Wikipedia
Maritime Telephone and Telegraph Company — Former MT T Logo Last MTT Logo Maritime Telephone and Telegraph Company ( … Wikipedia
Telecommunication — A parabolic satellite communication antenna at the biggest facility for satellite communication in Raisting, Bavaria, Germany … Wikipedia
Diffusion of technology in Canada — This article outlines the history of the diffusion or spread of technology in Canada. Technologies chosen for treatment here include, in rough order, transportation, communication, energy, materials, industry, public works, public services… … Wikipedia
Deepwater Horizon oil spill — 2010 oil spill and BP oil spill redirect here. For other oil spills in 2010, see 2010 oil spill (disambiguation). For the 2006 oil spill involving BP, see Prudhoe Bay oil spill. For the drilling rig and explosion, see Deepwater Horizon… … Wikipedia
Concorde — For other uses, see Concorde (disambiguation). Concorde Role Supersonic airliner … Wikipedia