By Gemma Christie
The Royal Mint are releasing an extra-special £2 coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of the father of the not-so-humble telephone, Alexander Graham Bell. The outstanding design of the coin by Graphic Designer Henry Gray celebrates the iconic three by three numerical keypad with the words “pioneer of the telephone” inscribed on the keys. A fitting tribute, considering the keypad design was synonymous with the modern telephone for many decades.
Bell, who hails from Edinburgh, was originally researching the harmonic telegraph – an ingenious device that sends multiple messages simultaneously over a single telegraph wire. This research, which spanned several years, ultimately led him to create his greatest invention, the telephone. His mother and wife partially drove Bell’s dedication to understanding human voices, as both were deaf. This link, paired with a healthy dose of curiosity and a passion for “always finding solutions to problems”, resulted in him first successfully transmitting voice through wires on the 10th of March 1876.
From the original tall telephone design that could only transmit to other devices nearby to our now far more modern instruments and a world of instant unified communications with tiny tech that allows messages to pass through the cloud, it’s clear that telecommunications technology has changed significantly. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is our desire to stay connected, making Bell’s invention one of the most crucial of modern times and one that will continue to adapt to our ever-changing world of technology and communications.
Today, the telephone is one of the most famous inventions in history, and over 82% of British people own a smartphone yet it all started when Bell patented his revolutionary design back in 1876. Since then, they’ve become an absolute necessity for many of us, be that for work or fun. With our working lives becoming more and more reliant on distributed communications and the ability to connect with others remotely, the telephone has adapted to a hyperconnected smart device capable of sending text, video, voice, vibrations and maybe in the future, touch or smell, too.
So, while we can look back with fondness and be grateful, the question is, what will the next 100 years bring for the invention we originally called the telephone?
About VTSL
VTSL is a leading cloud communications provider, offering organisations across the UK & Ireland powerful voice communications technology that allows them to work smarter. VTSL's service streamlines day-to-day interactions with intuitive and easy-to-use management portals, mobile apps, and state-of-the-art phones. Integrations with applications such as MS Teams reduce admin time and provides a seamless working across platforms. Learn more by emailing info@vtsl.net today.
