From: Eirikur Hallgrimsson (eh@mad.scientist.com)
Date: Mon Jun 05 2000 - 23:47:19 PDT
One of my longest-standing questions about the history of technology
is why sound-recording took as long as it did. After the escapement
that allowed clock mechanisms to rotate at a precise speed, the
phonograph was there for the taking, maybe even before that, in Roman
times, with the speed control feedback (I don't know how it was
accomplished) in water-powered mills.
Basically this was technically low-hanging-fruit, but the wave theory
of sound was needed.
Sigh, I don't seem to be writing the alternative history novel about
this, though.
If you all haven't read "The Victorian Internet" yet (about the
telegraph), you might reconsider.
Eirikur
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