Category Archives: This day in information

This Day In Information: The Last Telegram

Posted on February 1, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 2006, Western Union announced on its Website that it “will discontinue all Telegram and Commercial Messaging services.”

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This Day In Information: IBM and Social Security

Posted on January 31, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 1940, Ida M. Fuller became the first person to receive an old-age monthly benefit check under the new Social Security law. Her first check, dated January 31, was for $22.54.

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This Day in Information: 1st Telephone Switchboard

Posted on January 28, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 1878, the first commercial switchboard began operating in New Haven, Connecticut. It served 21 telephones on 8 lines consequently with many people on a party line. On February 17, Western Union opened the first large city exchange in … Continue reading →

Posted in Telephone, This day in information | 3 Comments

This Day In Information: IBM’s SSEC and Creating the Public Image of Computers

Posted on January 27, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 1948, IBM’s Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator (SSEC) was announced and demonstrated to the public.

Posted in Computer history, Social Impact, This day in information | 3 Comments

This Day In Information (Exxtra! Exxtra!): The Birth of Electronics

Posted on January 25, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 1915, Alexander Graham Bell inaugurated the first transcontinental telephone service in the United States with a phone call from New York City to Dr. Thomas Watson in San Francisco.

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This Day In Information: Pioneering Photography

Posted on January 25, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 1839, William Henry Fox Talbot showed his five-year old pictures at the Royal Society, 18 days after the Daguerreotype process was presented before the French Academy.

Posted in Photography, This day in information | 1 Comment

What Novels Do to Our Minds

Posted on January 21, 2011 by GilPress

“NOVELS have ever met with a ready reception into the Libraries of the Ladies, but this species of writing hath not been received with universal approbation: Futility is not the only charge brought against it — Any attempt, therefore, to … Continue reading →

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This Day In Information: SAGE

Posted on January 16, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 1956, the development of the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE), is disclosed to the public. “Looking back at the development of the computers supporting the SAGE, the origins of many key computer innovations are readily apparent.

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This Day In Information: Birth of Wikipedia

Posted on January 15, 2011 by GilPress

Today in 2001, Wikipedia was launched. Since its creation, Wikipedia has grown rapidly into one of the largest reference websites, attracting nearly 78 million visitors monthly as of January 2010 about 80 million unique monthly visitors as of December 2010. … Continue reading →

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This Day In Information: Birth of Public Radio Broadcasting

Posted on January 13, 2011 by GilPress

Yesterday and today in 1910, opera was first heard on the radio in what is considered the first public radio broadcast. On January 12, Lee De Forest conducted an experimental broadcast of part of the live Metropolitan Opera performance of … Continue reading →

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