A Brief Journey Through the History of Voice Communication
01/08/23 20:41
Introduction:
In this blog we will look at the key moments that changed way we communicate and why two rival undertakers’ business would play a key part.
During my time at Verizon, as the recognised global voice lead outside of meeting with 100’s of customers I would often talk to new hires & specifically graduates.
Many had a good grasp of the latest technology but didn’t have the back story.
I would book out some quality time, often 1-1 or small groups and run through the history,
Also explaining of what that means today. (Joining the dots)
Whilst we are in the middle of BT’s big voice switch off, Norman Networks primary focus, I want to take you back to the very being so you can gain some of that incite and get a better understanding of voice communications.
On March 10, 1876, during a demonstration of his newly invented telephone, Scotsman, Sir Alexander Graham Bell (aged just 29) made a call to his assistant, Thomas Watson, who was in another room.
According to the popular belief, Bell said, "Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you."
Voice communication is an integral part of our daily lives, allowing us to connect with others, share information, and express our thoughts.
Over the centuries, the development of voice communication has witnessed remarkable milestones, from the invention of the telephone to the advent of modern voice assistants.
It has most recently been back in the forefront keeping business’s running during the global pandemic proving once again its importance.
In this blog, we'll take a fascinating journey through the key dates and milestones in the history of voice communication, highlighting the significant advancements along the way.
Part 1.
1876: The Invention of the Telephone The story of voice communication begins with the legendary figure of Sir Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone in 1876. With this ground-breaking invention, Bell revolutionized the way people communicate over long distances, leading to the formation of the Bell Telephone Company, which later became AT&T.
To put this into perspective it’s the same year the battle of little big horn took place & Queen Victoria was on the throne.
Ironically Bell refused to have a telephone in his office as he considered it a distraction.
Early voice calls were connected manually, legend has it that Strowger, who was an undertaker, was losing business as the call’s were being passed to a rival.
its believed that a rival undertaker wife was working as an operator at the time and passing the calls to her husbands business.
So how did this work in practise?
In essence a caller would pick up their telephone and a light would appear on a manual switchboard.
The operator would plug into a jack under the light and speak to the caller.
The caller would tell the operator who they wanted to speak to.
The operator would then patch the call to destination and pull a ring key on the switchboard.
This then rang the phone at the distant end, the call would hopefully be answered, the connection is made.
This would happen in two ways; the operator might ask if the end user if they would except the call or just patch them straight through.(Blind connection)
Once the call was complete the light would go out and the operator would remove the patch cords and the call was disconnected.
This was not secure, operators could easily listen-in and get the gossip.
It was also fraught with disconnects and noisy lines.
A variation of this model remained until the early 1980’s with PMBX’s, private manual branch exchanges.
These were popular with hospital’s & local authorities in the main, The Post Office & subsequently BT had this market covered.
To get around this problem Strowger invented the automatic telephone exchange.
Allowing you to call directly, be it primitive.
There is much controversy as other’s were working on similar designs at the patent office, one of which was filled on the very same day, notably Elisha Gray.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_Gray
Strowger conceived his invention in 1888, and was awarded a patent for an automatic telephone exchange in 1891. The initial model was made from a round collar box and some straight pins.
1891: First Long-Distance Phone Call On January 25, 1891, the first long-distance telephone call was made by Almon Strowger, the undertaker from Kansas City.
This historic call covered approximately four miles and marked the beginning of the era of long-distance voice communication.
1902: The First Transatlantic Radio Transmission Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian inventor, made history in 1902 when he successfully transmitted the first transatlantic radio message. This significant milestone paved the way for wireless voice communication, eventually leading to the development of technologies such as radio broadcasting.
1927: The Birth of Public Broadcasting on November 2, 1920, the first commercial radio station, KDKA, went on the air in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
However, it was in 1927 that the Federal Radio Commission (later renamed the Federal Communications Commission) was established in the United States to regulate radio broadcasting and ensure fair access to the airwaves.
1937: The Introduction of Tape Recording The German company AEG developed the first practical tape recorder in 1937, known as the Magnetophon.
This invention marked a significant advancement in voice communication technology, allowing for the recording and playback of sound with exceptional quality and fidelity.
1947: The Invention of the Transistor The invention of the transistor by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley at Bell Labs in 1947 revolutionized the field of electronics. Transistors served as the building blocks for smaller, more efficient voice communication devices, leading to the development of smaller radios, televisions, and eventually, mobile phones.
1973: The First Mobile Phone Call Motorola engineer Martin Cooper made the world's first handheld mobile phone call on April 3, 1973. DynaTAC 8000X.
Cooper called his rival at Bell Labs, Joel Engel, and the conversation marked a pivotal moment in the history of voice communication, heralding the era of mobile telephony.
It’s safe to say this was initially for the very elite, due to the price, approx. £9,000 in today’s money.
Around this time came transportable & car phones.
Less expensive for the obvious reasons.
1983: The Introduction of Voicemail, a technology that allowed users to leave recorded messages for others, was introduced by Voice Message Exchange (VMX) in 1983.
This innovation significantly transformed voice communication, making it possible to receive and retrieve messages even when the recipient was unavailable.
Taken for granted these day’s however this was a real game changer.
In recent times the security has been improved on the back of some very high-profile hacking case’s mainly within the mobile market.
1985:
In June of this year ISDN was launched, Integrated Services Digital Network.
This has been a long-awaited development.
2mbs circuits with the ability to make up to 30 calls per circuits.
The industry had been waiting on an international standard.
However, the UK were a head of the game and launches DASS 2. Digital Access Signal System.
This was a for runner to the current version of Q.931, also known as Euro ISDN.
This proved challenging to the telephone system manufactures due to different inface cards required, other names included E1 or T1 in the US & primary rate.
An entry level service ISDN2 was launched, providing 2 channels. (64K per channel)
with various applications.
More recently there have been enhancements to allow more channels, ISDN2e.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Access_Signalling_System_2
Please note all the above is being retired by the end of 2025 & is stop sell by BT form September 2023.
1992: Saw the first text message send, it simply said Merry Christmas.
In Europe txt messaging (SMS) took off quite quickly however culturally the US were slow to adopt.
It was also a big revenue generator for the mobile service providers.
This was a key moment as this was the first thing to be added over the top of the voice, all of which for some considerable time was a chargeable option and in part still is today.
1993: Internet Phone Calls and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) VocalTec introduced the first internet phone software in 1993, enabling voice communication over the internet. This breakthrough led to the development of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technology that facilitated voice calls over data networks, ultimately changing the telecommunications landscape.
Much of early VoIP struggled with quality and its very latency dependent.
There was much debate around this time on ratifying standards.
The main two were H323 & SIP, with that latter winning out.
Enterprise business started to migrate to SIP in the late 2000’s, by this time many network service providers could deliver SIP (Session Internet Protocol) over customers own private network solving the latency challenges & improving security.
In late 2003 number porting was introduced as part of deregulation.
This was particularly challenging in the start.
This will be a key factor for anyone still using traditional voice today as it can take some time to port and is often down out of hours.
2011: The Emergence of Voice Assistants The debut of Apple's Siri in 2011 marked the beginning of the era of voice assistants.
These intelligent virtual assistants, powered by artificial intelligence, have revolutionized voice communication.
Siri was followed by other popular voice assistants such as Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft's Cortana.
These voice assistants have become an integral part of our smartphones, smart speakers, and other smart devices, allowing users to perform a wide range of tasks through voice commands, including making calls, sending messages, setting reminders, playing music, and accessing information.
2014: Introduction of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Voice over LTE (VoLTE) was introduced in 2014, enabling high-quality voice calls over 4G LTE networks.
VoLTE improved call quality, reduced call setup times, and allowed for simultaneous voice and data transmission. This technology has become increasingly prevalent in modern smartphones and has laid the foundation for the ongoing development of 5G networks and their advanced voice communication capabilities.
2018: Rise of Voice Search and Voice-Activated Devices With the increasing popularity of smart speakers and voice assistants, voice search has emerged as a significant trend.
People now use voice commands to search for information, find directions, and interact with various applications and services.
Voice-activated devices, such as smart home assistants, have also gained prominence, allowing users to control their home automation systems, thermostats, lights, and other connected devices using voice commands.
Present Day: Continued Innovation and Integration Voice communication continues to evolve and integrate with other emerging technologies.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning advancements have enhanced the accuracy and capabilities of voice assistants.
Voice biometrics, which use voice patterns for identification and authentication, have gained importance in security applications.
Moreover, the development of 5G networks and the Internet of Things (IoT) is paving the way for more seamless voice communication experiences and enabling the integration of voice commands into a wide range of devices and applications.
The history of voice communication is a testament to human ingenuity and our constant desire to connect and communicate.
From the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell to the rise of modern voice assistants and beyond, voice communication has undergone significant transformations.
It has not only bridged geographical distances but has also become an essential part of our daily lives, empowering us to interact with technology in more intuitive and efficient ways.
As technology continues to advance, we can look forward to more exciting developments and innovations in the realm of voice communication, further enhancing our ability to connect and communicate with the world around us.
Addendum: Recent Advances in Voice Communication
Since the previous section, there have been notable advancements in voice communication that continue to shape our daily interactions and push the boundaries of what is possible.
Let's explore some of the recent developments in this field:
Natural Language Processing (NLP) Advancements: NLP has seen significant progress, allowing voice assistants to better understand and interpret human speech.
Thanks to machine learning algorithms and advancements in NLP, voice assistants now have improved contextual understanding, can handle complex queries, and provide more accurate responses.
Multilingual Voice Assistants: To cater to a global audience, voice assistants have made strides in supporting multiple languages.
Companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple have expanded their voice assistants' language capabilities, allowing users worldwide to interact with these assistants in their native tongues.
Voice-Controlled Smart Homes: Voice communication has found a perfect fit in the smart home ecosystem. Integration of voice assistants with smart home devices has become more seamless, allowing users to control various aspects of their homes using voice commands. From adjusting the lighting and temperature to controlling security systems and home appliances, voice-controlled smart homes have become increasingly popular.
Voice Commerce: Voice commerce, also known as v-commerce or voice shopping, has emerged as a new frontier in retail. With the help of voice assistants, users can now browse products, place orders, and make purchases using voice commands.
This trend has opened up new opportunities for businesses and transformed the way people shop online.
Improved Accessibility: Voice communication technology has made significant strides in improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Voice assistants and speech recognition software have empowered people with visual impairments, mobility challenges, and other disabilities to interact with technology more effectively and independently.
Voice Communication in Vehicles: Voice communication has become a vital component of modern vehicle technology.
Voice-controlled infotainment systems, navigation systems, and hands-free calling have enhanced safety and convenience for drivers on the road. Integration with voice assistants like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto further enables seamless voice interaction in vehicles.
Voice Analysis and Emotion Detection: Advancements in voice analysis technology have allowed for emotion detection through voice. This has applications in fields like market research, customer service, and mental health. Voice analysis algorithms can detect emotions such as anger, happiness, or stress, providing valuable insights into user experiences and emotional well-being.
Conclusion:
Voice communication has come a long way since the invention of the telephone, evolving into a diverse and dynamic field.
With recent advances in natural language processing, multilingual support, smart home integration, voice commerce, accessibility, and voice analysis, voice communication continues to shape our interactions with technology and the world around us.
As we move forward, it will be fascinating to witness further innovations and see how voice communication transforms our daily lives, making interactions more seamless, intuitive, and personalized than ever before.
Epilogue:
The Future of Voice Communication
Looking ahead, the future of voice communication holds even more exciting possibilities. Here are some emerging trends and potential developments that may shape the landscape of voice communication:
Voice-Activated Augmented Reality (AR): As augmented reality technology continues to advance, integrating voice commands with AR devices and applications could enhance user experiences. Imagine using voice commands to interact with virtual objects, navigate through augmented environments, or receive real-time voice-guided information overlaid on our physical surroundings.
Voice-Enabled Healthcare: Voice communication has the potential to transform the healthcare industry.
Voice assistants could be used for remote patient monitoring, voice-based diagnostics, medication reminders, and providing personalized health recommendations.
This integration could improve patient care, facilitate telemedicine, and empower individuals to take control of their well-being.
Voice Authentication and Security: Voice biometrics has gained traction as a secure method of authentication. Continued advancements in voice recognition technology may lead to widespread adoption of voice authentication for secure access to devices, applications, and financial transactions.
Enhanced security measures could also protect against voice impersonation attacks and ensure the privacy of voice data.
Voice Biometrics has come a long way in recent years.
Ambient Voice Interfaces: Ambient voice interfaces aim to make voice communication more natural and seamless by removing the need for explicit wake words or commands.
With ambient interfaces, voice assistants could continuously listen for voice cues and provide proactive assistance without requiring explicit user initiation.
This concept could further blur the lines between human-machine interaction and integrate voice communication seamlessly into our daily lives.
Voice Translation and Real-Time Interpretation: With the rise of global connectivity, real-time voice translation and interpretation services have become increasingly important.
Improvements in machine learning and NLP may lead to more accurate and efficient voice translation capabilities, breaking down language barriers and facilitating seamless communication among diverse cultures and languages.
Voice Communication in Virtual Reality (VR): Virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize communication and collaboration.
Integration of voice communication in VR environments can enable more immersive virtual experiences, allowing users to communicate naturally with others in virtual spaces. This technology could have applications in gaming, remote teamwork, virtual meetings, and virtual social interactions.
Voice communication has evolved tremendously since its inception, and it continues to be a dynamic field of innovation.
As advancements in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and technology integration continue, voice communication will become an even more integral part of our lives.
From augmented reality and healthcare to ambient interfaces and translation services, the future of voice communication holds immense potential to enhance how we connect, interact, and communicate in the digital age.
Let us eagerly await the upcoming chapters in the ever-evolving story of voice communication.
