what did they use before the telephone existed?

Question

yea, was it telegraph or something? when was this thing invented?
and were there any kinds of communication that served the same human needs as the telephone?

Answer 1

The telegraph was very popular before the telephone. It all started in 1825 when a British inventor by the name of William Sturgeon laid a foundation of the electromagnet. In 1830 an american by the name of Joseph Henry tried this "electromagnet" by sending a certain amount of current far away to reach this electromagnet in which hit a bell, thus the telegraph. Then Samuel F.B. Morse during his time as a professor of arts and design at the New York University of 1835. He found that you could send signals though the current, so he developed a way to send a code though the wire known as Morse Code. Thomas Edison helped with a lot of technologies at this time and helped Alexander Graham Bell(maker of the telephone) better tune his microphone If you want more info. check out the sites:
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltelegraph.htm
http://www.historyofall.com/history-of-the-telephone.html
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Edison-T

Answer 2

Telegraph and postal service for the most part were the main means of distance communication before the telephone came into use. I wish I could have used the telegraph, it seems like it'd be pretty fun.

Answer 3

The telegraph and smoke signals!

Answer 4

Depending on cultures and era we are in.

Pigeon was used during the ancient Chinese Dynasty... long before B.C set in.... c",)

Answer 5

its called walking next door. they didnt even have electricity or cars! today we r all just spoiled!