CHAPTER 10: Development of Transport and Communication

​Communication 

• It is the exchange of ideas, information, news feelings or opinion over some distance 

​Early forms of communication 

• Messengers
• Fire and smoke signals
• Horn blowing
• Drum beating
• Screaming and cries
• Bells
• Flags
• Written messages
• Use of gestures

​Messenger’s   

• Were commonly used to deliver messages
• Messages were delivered verbally
• The accuracy of the message normally depends on the memory of the messenger who always travel on foot
• Animals and birds such as cats, dogs, doves, pigeon and parrots were also used as messengers

Disadvantages    

• One would be killed on the way
• He would give the wrong message or forget the message
• He would fail to meet the recipient
• It was too low
• Messenger who brought bad news were killed on arrival in some communities
• A person carrying verbal messages could be tortured to make him reveal the message
• The distance covered would be limited since they walked on foot 

Signals  

• A signal is a simple message in a code e.g. fire, smoke, drumbeat, horn blowing etc

Fire signals 

• It was lit at the top of hill where it could be seen from far

Advantages

• It was used in sending an urgent message
• It was a visible signal
• it was faster in terms of speed
• it was cheap
• it upheld confidentiality  

Disadvantages 

• messages could only be sent over short distances
• range of messages passed was limited
• it was restricted to weather conditions
• was of little use if one was on the lookout to see and interpret
• it had only one meaning

Smoke signals

• Fire was lit using damp materials’ or green leaves, this gave a lot of smoke

Disadvantages

• It was not visible in cloudy or misty weather
• On windy weather the smoke was blown away before the message could be read
• Messages could only be sent over a short distance
• If no one was one the lookout smoke or fire signal was useless

Drum beating

• Communities used drumbeats to send messages
• Each beat had its own codes for relaying different messages
• They spread the message quickly
• They were effectively used at dawn and sunset when all was calm

Advantages

• A wide range of message would be relayed
• Messages from drumbeats could be conveyed over wide areas
• Could be used at any time day or night and in every season be it wet or dry
• Messages were conveyed faster by drumbeats compared to smokes signals   

Disadvantages

• At times it was difficult to differentiate the beats and therefore the messages could not be clearly interpreted
• The message could be misunderstood
• It relied on the people with special skills
• Drum beat message were easily interfered with by natural elements like wind or rain

Screams and cries

• They were used on hills or mountain tops because of the echo
• Used screams to convey messages
• Ululation signified feasting or good news such as the birth of a child 

Bells

• They were used in Christian countries to remind worshippers the service was about to start
• It was also used to warn a disaster or invasion when rang very rapidly

Flags

• Ships carrying the same flag either belong to the same country or company

Written messages

• In Egypt it was called heirographic while in Mesopotamia it was called cuneiform
• Several materials were used to write messages on
• Man used clay tablets dried skin and bark of trees. Later man developed scrolls parchments and then papers

Advantages

• They provided reliable information that was not easily forgotten
• Information was stored in that form for future reference
• Information could be interpreted into different languages so that it would be accessible to many
• The message in most cases, was accurate 

​Modern means of communication  

Modern means of communication  

• Telephone, Radio, Television, Video, Internet, Newspapers, Journals, Magazines, Electronic mail, Telex, Telegraph, Cinema, Fax mile, Trans-receiver, Pager, Satellite, Periodicals  ​

​Telecommunications 

• It is the sending and receiving of messages through electronic devices such as radio, TV, telephone etc

Telephone  

• Is a communication device used in relaying sound waves by converting them into electrical signals and then reconverting them into sound waves
• It was invented by Alexander Graham Bell an American in 1875. He was assisted by Thomas Watson.
• It was used to receive and make calls

Cell phone/ mobile phone

• It is a type of wireless communication
• Dr martin cooper is considered to be the inventor of the first modern portable cell phone in 1973
• Manufacturing companies we have in Kenya included; nokia, Motorola, Sony, alcatel, Samsung, Ericson, Panasonic, sagem and Siemens AG
• The service provider includes; safaricom, airtel, vodaphone, MTN, E&C and Verizon wireless   

Features of cell phone

• Making and receiving calls
• A personal phonebook
• Ability to send and receive sins
• Ability to store and to display and record the telephone number of a caller
• Calculator, clock and calendar
• Access to the internet i.e. send and receive e-mail
• Digital camera capacity
• A variety of ringtones or a vibrate call mode
• Store e-mail address

Disadvantages

• Poor reception where there is no network
• The cellular technology is dependent on the availability  of electricity
• There is a problem of breakage of external antennae
• Continuous use of mobile phones has raised the fear of the effect of radioactive rays on human beings
• Cell phones are easily stolen due to their small size 
• The internal antennae may also interfere with the phones other components such as the calculator and the clock etc 

Television

• It was invented by John Logie Baird in 1926
• He was demonstrating how moving images could be transmitted by radio waves at a distance
• The first public television station British Broadcasting Corporation was established in 1936  

Advantages

• It conveys news and information from all over the world more vividly
• It is an important device for entertainment
• Some educational programs are broadcasted on the television
• Is used to advertise goods
• It is effective in transmitting ideas since it commands attention
• Television has enabled humankind to bridge the limitation of real-time communication

Disadvantages

• TV can only be viewed where there is electricity
• Pornographic programs have eroded cultural values especially among the youth who have grown watching TV
• Violence is rampant among young people because of watching violent programs such as wrestling and violent movies
• Advertisements on the television such as those  of alcoholic drinks and cigarette have encouraged deviate behavior
• Watching television has become an addition in some in some homes

Radio    

• It is the sending of information through electromagnetic waves in the air and can be received by anyone who has suitable receiver
• People who helps in the invention of the radio includes;
• Heinrich Rudolph hertz – a German – 1888
• Guliemo Marconi – Italian 
• Radio are used in ships aeroplane and security forces

Importance of radio

• It’s cheap and many people can afford
• News and information is quickly received throughout the country
• Illiterate people can understand the information because they use local languages
• It has enhanced transport systems because it is used in aeroplane and ships
• The public is educated on government policies
• It is a source of entertainment
• Radio signals are used to communicate with space crafts
• Radio calls are used by security men to report any crime therefore enhancing security
• It has created employment to many

Telegraph

• An American Samuel Morse is credited with the making of the first operational telegraph in 1837
• Send coded electronic messages by wire over a long distance

Advantages   

• Telegraph lines were set along the railway to provide information about the movement of trains hence assisted in development of transport
• It enabled journalists to spread the news faster
• It enabled business people and industrialists to order raw materials