EOTO Tech Presentations: Blog #5

 The presentation that caught my attention the most was the presentation on the first radio. The first radio was invented by Guglielmi Marconi in the 1890's. As the years went on, the radio became more and more developed. Marconi would end up patenting the idea in 1896. Despite patenting the radio, and technically developing the first fully functional radio, radio signal and waves had been developed since as early as 1800 as Alessandro Volta developed the first by developing an electrical current. The development would continue further throughout the years as many men would have a part in the overall development of the radio. The first time a human voice was put to use on the radio was in 1906 by Reginald Aubrey. Just a year later in 1907, De Forrest Lee would deliver the first live radio broadcast. Later on, November 2nd, 1920, KD radio was founded becoming the first ever radio station. Years later, the Radio Act of 1927 was signed by then US President Calvin Coolidge. The act entailed "strengthening" the government's authority to "regulate all forms of interstate and foreign radio transmissions and communications within the United States, it's territories and possessions." There was also a standard adopted by the news stations at the time that stations had to be shown "in the public interest, convivence, or necessity." At the time, about only one percent of US families owned one radio or more, that number would grow to more than half by 1931. In the 1920's, radios could cost anywhere from $35 for a cheap model, to $350 for a nicer model. As interest professional sports such as baseball, and pro football grew amongst American cities, and an overall growing interest in news the radio became more and more popular. Especially since the television didn't come until later this was all the people knew.