Convey

The Alchemy of Us, written by Ainissa Ramirez, is a set of case studies in materials science depicting the ways in which we shape materials and they shape us in turn. Chapter three of The Alchemy of Us by Ainissa Ramirez is about the invention of the telegraph and the way it fundamentally changed our communication. 

The invention and popularization of the telegraph took place during the early-mid 18th century, a period characterized by American growth. The Potato Famine in Ireland brought millions of irish immigrants to the United States, new states including Texas joined the union, gold was discovered in California, and most importantly, the railroad system grew tremendously. Telegraphs and railroads were often built side by side, becoming a vital system of communication linking America.

Image courtesy of Library of Congress

The section "Dispatches of Lightning" described Samuel F.B. Morse and his invention of the telegraph and Morse code.

Joseph Shin

Yaocheng

Clearly, Samuel F. B. Morse's telegraph completely changed communication, fostering a culture of simplicity that transcended writing styles and even influenced later writers such as Hemingway. However, historical concerns about the Morse telegraph echo modern concerns about the impact of online communications. While instant messaging speeds up communication, it also creates risks that can hinder human interaction. Despite advances in technology, the loss of nonverbal cues and face-to-face conversations points to the need to maintain genuine human connections.

The Electric Telegraph lived from before the American civil war to the beginning of the internet age- from railroads, manifest destiny, and weeks long Atlantic crossing journeys to Honda Accords, Friends, and the Concorde- albeit with a drop off in usage. Mainstream usage of the telegraph dropped dramatically in the early 1900s with increased telephone usage, and email and the internet killed most remaining use cases. As Ramirez shows, though, the changes in our lexicon remain to this day. Ramirez effectively argues throughout the chapter that the telegraph changed our communication drastically, incentivizing us to write and speak simply and quickly. As Ramirez argues we shape technologies and they shape us in return, Morse carefully shaped the telegraph to fit our needs, but in turn the device shaped the way we communicate.

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