Category Archives: Social Impact

Big Data in the Age of the Telegraph

Posted on March 12, 2013 by GilPress

Caitlin Rosenthal writes in “Big Data in the Age of the Telegraph,” McKinsey Quarterly, March 2013: “In 1854, Daniel McCallum took charge of the operations of the New York and Erie Railroad. With nearly 500 miles of track, it was one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Data, Business history, information organization, Railroads, Social Impact, Social Networks, Telegraph | Leave a comment

Race Against the Machine Watch

Posted on March 11, 2013 by GilPress

Today in 1811, the first Luddite attack in which knitting frames were actually smashed occurred in the Nottinghamshire village of Arnold. Kevin Binfield in Writings of the Luddites: “The grievances consisted, first, of the use of wide stocking frames to produce … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation, Race Against the Machine, Social Impact, This day in information | Leave a comment

Technology in the Classroom

Posted on March 7, 2013 by GilPress

Teaching 2.0: Is Tech In The Classroom Worth The Cost? (Podcast) “[Skype] enables me, as a writer based in New York, to get to places I’d otherwise never be able to get to. I’ve seen teachers completely dedicated to making their … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Internet, Internet access, Social Impact, Statistics | Leave a comment

First Photo Studio

Posted on March 4, 2013 by GilPress

Today in 1840, Alexander S. Wolcott and John Johnson opened the first commercial photography studio in New York.  Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine described Wolcott as having “nearly revolutionized the whole process of Daguerre… [who] as is well known, could not succeed in taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Social Impact, This day in information | Leave a comment

The Social Impact of the Internet

Posted on March 2, 2013 by GilPress
Posted in Economic Impact, Information Economy, Internet, Internet Economy, Social Impact, Stats, World Wide Web | Leave a comment

Birth of The Optical Telegraph

Posted on March 2, 2013 by GilPress

Today in 1791, at 11 A.M., the Chappe brothers sent the message “si vous réussissez, vous serez bientôt couverts de gloire” (if you succeed, you will soon bask in glory) between Brulon and Parce, a distance of ten miles, over their … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact, Telegraph, This day in information | Leave a comment

First U.S. Census and the Census of Occupations

Posted on March 1, 2013 by GilPress

Today in 1790 Congress passed the Census Act of 1790 and President George Washington signed the law, which authorized the collection of population data by U.S. Marshals.  Although the act included the specific inquiries marshals asked at each home they visited, they did not … Continue reading →

Posted in Censuses, Social Impact, Statistics, This day in information, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lord Byron and the Luddites

Posted on February 27, 2013 by GilPress

Today in  1812, Lord Byron gave his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in a parliamentary debate on the Frame Breaking Act. Byron told his peers: “During the short time I recently passed in Nottingham, not twelve … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer history, Social Impact, This day in information | Leave a comment

50 Things We Don’t Do Anymore Because of Technology (Infographic)

Posted on February 21, 2013 by GilPress

Courtesy of: Mozy

Posted in Infographics, Social Impact | 3 Comments

Does Texting Hurt Your Grammar?

Posted on February 13, 2013 by GilPress

A study has found that texting may impact students’ grammar.

Posted in Education, Infographics, Reading, Social Impact | Leave a comment