Blog post 4, part 2: EOTO Technology What I Learned

For this project, we researched a specific technology and presented its history and impact to the class. All my classmates' presentations were engaging and informative, but two that stood out to me the most were Reid's presentation on the phonograph and Carter's presentation on the television.

Before this project, I had little knowledge of the phonograph, but I found it fascinating to learn that Thomas Edison invented it to record and play back sound. The device worked by using a stylus to etch sound waves onto a rotating cylinder. What I found most intriguing was how revolutionary this invention was; it completely transformed how people listen to music. Today, recorded sound is an essential part of entertainment, communication, and historical preservation, all thanks to the phonograph. However, Reid also mentioned that when the phonograph was first introduced, some people were concerned about its sound quality, an issue that would later be refined with advancements in audio technology. Without this early innovation, the development of later audio formats, such as vinyl records, cassette tapes, CDs, and digital streaming, would not have been possible. It truly set the foundation for how we experience recorded sound today.

Similarly, I had limited knowledge of the television and how it came to be before Carter's presentation, but she explained the history and impact of it very well. She highlighted how early televisions used rotating disks to scan images, a method that produced a low-quality, flickering picture. Over time, this technology evolved into the first electronic television, which replaced mechanical components with electron beams. This advancement improved picture quality and paved the way for how modern TV is today in 2025.

Both presentations clearly explained how technology has shaped society over the years and how it has improved. The phonograph transformed our experience of sound, while television revolutionized visual storytelling and mass communication. Learning about these technologies made me appreciate how much has changed over time and prompted me to reflect on how we consume media today. These advancements not only shaped entertainment but also influenced education, news, and even social interactions, proving that technology continues to evolve and impact our daily lives in essential ways.