Pony Express...look horsies...

Before what we call the "snail mail", there was another way our mail was delivered. Even though it existed only a very very short amount of time, it's remembered in movies and as an important piece to America's puzzle. Though the Pony Express was only established for 18 months, the legend that follows it will always remain on our minds.

The criteria to be a Pony Express rider was that you had to weigh under 125lbs which explains why many of the riders were young boys of 14-15. One extrordinary boy was William "Buffalo Bill" Cody who would later go on to form his "Wild West Show". These boys were taught to be tough and withstand attacks and extreme weather changes. The riders were only supposed to ride 75 miles per day but many went for much much more. Another famous rider, "Pony Bob" Haslam had to ride a record 380 miles in 36 hours.

If our mail, even "snail mail", took as long as it took for the Pony Express to deliver it, I doubt I'd survive. Unfortunately, the age of the Pony Express came to an end due to financial troubles. Other, quicker ways were coming to communicate which led to the Pony Express's demise. For all their hard work, they may have paved the beginning to a "speedy" mail delivery system.

Smoke Signals

As technology has progressed over time, people have grown accustomed to having easy and reliable ways to communicate with one another. Let’s take a minute to look back and imagine how we would communicate without cell phones, computers, or even the postal service. It seems hard to believe that it was even possible. Years ago, Native Americans used smoke signals to relay messages to each other. This is one of the earliest noted forms of visual communication. This worked best when one Indian or group of Indians was higher than the other so that the smoke could be seen. The different tribes would have signal posts where this took place. They would create a signal fire using wet materials that would produce more smoke. To send a message they would pass a blanket or piece of cloth across the fire. This would separate the smoke puffs. Certain spacing or number of puffs relayed different messages. As one would imagine, they could not produce detailed messages in this fashion. This form of communication was not always reliable. The messages were short and to the point. It is said that smoke signals were used between tribes to warn each other of the possibility of attacks or buffalo sightings.

Photo courtesy of www.cartoonstock.com

http://history.howstuffworks.com/native-american-history/smoke-signal.htm

Morse Code: A thing of the past or the new toy of the future?

The question I want to put before you is this: is morse code really a dead communications tool? Is there really a problem with using Morse Code? It's obviously shown by this video that it can be quite efficient. Another good thing is that it doesn't need sattelite links to stay in touch. In 1835 Samuel Morse, the inventor of Morse Code, used pulses of current to deflect an electromagnet, which moved a marker to produce written codes on a strip of paper (Bellis). The Titanic did use Morse Code to transmit signals, but unfortunately did not heed the warnings about the iceburgs. We've come so far, but truly there is an art and skill in using Morse Code. The sheet on the left is the basics needed for Morse Code.

It's amusing to watch, though, as kids find out about Morse Code and grow incredibly intrigued by it. It seems to me that older ways to do things captures the attention of young adults more often than the "newer/better" things. I wouldn't doubt that before too long there will be a new "toy" that will allow kids to talk to each other in a similar fashion to Morse Code. But to them, it'll be like learning some new all over.



Work Cited: Bellis, Mary. "The History of the Electric Telegraph and Telegraphy." 1997. About.com. 3 June 2009 .

4 Girls & Me: Communication

Poor, Roman being the only guy. Well this is the fresh start of our brand new blogging page. The central theme for this semester is going to be communication. It's a broad topic, but one, I believe, we all find fascinating and intriguing. Fortunately, the topics could be endless as we continue to focus our attention on communication around the globe.

Brittney