By Gavin Weightman

If you want to know the origins of the current wireless industry, I recommend this book.

Born of an Irish mother and Italian father, both wealthy, Marconi fits the image of the gentleman inventor. He developed a childhood interest in electricity into a multinational wireless corporation using his family’s wealth and connections. After some early breakthroughs he winds up spending more time managing his company and falls behind as competitors innovate. The book makes a couple of interesting points comparing today’s new wireless technology.

Did you know one of his early public demonstrations was hacked by magician who showed that radio frequencies were not as secure as Marconi claimed?

How about that The Russo-Japanese War was decided by the use of radio? This had huge long term effects on the 20th century.

The early days of wireless were full of start-ups and con men who took investors’ money on untried technology schemes. Their methods have not changed much since.

The most moving was the account of the two radio operators on the Titanic. One died and the other barely survived. Without their distress signals we would never know what happened to the ship.

Marconi inspired a generation of young people to build and use wireless technology. They were as wild as hackers are today. Governments tried to crack down on them until WWI, when they suddenly realized they needed an army of technicians to win the war. Encouraging hobbyists and user groups to build communities pays off later on.

Marconi made his money and drifted into conservative politics. He died in 1937 under the shadow of Mussolini’s Fascist Italy. An embarrassing end to an amazing life.

Copyright 2008 DJ Cline All rights reserved.

Posted by dj in Books, Reviews [804 Views]