From telegraph wires to brainwaves: the evolution of how we consume and create information

Cultures · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Electronic media is more than just screens. It encompasses every device that uses electrical signals to store, transmit, or process content. From the 1832 invention of the telegraph to experimental brain-computer interfaces, this technology has fundamentally reshaped human interaction, turning once-static information into a dynamic, interactive, and global experience.

The trajectory of electronic media began with the mastery of transmission lines. Samuel Morse’s 1832 telegraph laid the groundwork, followed by the 1876 telephone, which shifted communication from text to voice. These early breakthroughs relied on physical infrastructure, such as the coaxial cable patented by Oliver Heaviside in 1880, to extend bandwidth and distance. By the 20th century, the medium shifted toward wireless transmission, pioneered by Guglielmo Marconi’s 1897 radio, and eventually satellite communication, which the United States initiated with the 1958 launch of Explorer 1.

As transmission evolved, so did the methods for displaying and storing information. The cathode-ray tube, developed by William Crookes, became the standard for early television and computer monitors by the 1920s. Storage technology moved from 18th-century punched cards to the 1941 invention of random-access memory (RAM), which remains a cornerstone of digital computing. The late 20th century saw a rapid succession of formats, from the 1976 VHS victory over Betamax in the video format wars to the 1982 introduction of the compact disc, which revolutionized digital audio storage.

Interactivity represents the current frontier of electronic media. Early systems relied on simple switches and knobs, but the field advanced through the development of keyboards, mice, and eventually the game controllers of the late 1970s. Today, the focus has shifted toward immersive experiences. Technologies like the wired glove of the 1980s paved the way for modern virtual reality, while brain-computer interfaces now seek to bypass physical input devices entirely, allowing users to control electronics directly through brainwaves. This progression reflects a constant drive to make the interface between human intent and machine execution increasingly seamless.

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