(word processor parameters LM=8, RM=75, TM=2, BM=2) Taken from KeelyNet BBS (214) 324-3501 Sponsored by Vangard Sciences PO BOX 1031 Mesquite, TX 75150 There are ABSOLUTELY NO RESTRICTIONS on duplicating, publishing or distributing the files on KeelyNet except where noted! November 7, 1992 PHONES.ASC -------------------------------------------------------------------- This file shared with KeelyNet courtesy of John Chipps. Don't get discouraged if your ideas are not accepted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Report of the Technical Committee To Determine Market Opportunities for The Telephone 1. The telephone is so named by its inventor, A. G. Bell, who sees for it a vast future as a means of personal communication by voice. He believes that one day they will be installed in every residence and place of business. 2. We note that Bell's profession is that of a voice teacher, and particularly a teacher of the deaf. He appears to have no direct experience with the telephone or any other form of communication, electrical or otherwise. Yet he claims to have discovered an instrument of great practical value in communication, which has been overlooked by thousands of workers who have spent years in the field. 3. Bell's proposal to place his instruments in almost every home and business house (an this is the only way which their potential may be realized) is fantastic in view of the capital costs of installing the endless numbers of wires and cables that would be demanded. The central exchange alone would represent a huge outlay in real estate and buildings, to say nothing of the electrical equipment. 4. Bell expects that the public will use his instruments without the aid of trained operators. Any telegraph engineer will at once see the fallacy of this plan. The public simply cannot be trusted to handle technical communication equipment. In any home where there are children, to mention only one point, there would inevitably be a high rate of breakage and frivolous use of the instruments. Furthermore, when making a call the subscriber must give the number verbally to the operator and have to deal with persons who may be illiterate, speak with lisps or stammer, have foreign accents or who may be sleepy or intoxicated when making a call. 5. While every telegram consists in itself a written record of what is being communicated, Bell's instrument uses nothing but the voice, which cannot be captured in concrete form, and therefore would be no record of what was said or agreed upon. We leave it to you to judge whether any sensible man would transact his affairs by such a means of communication. 6. Bell expects that the subscribers to this service will pay to have the instruments installed in their premises and will thereby pay for each call made, with a monthly minimum if no calls are made. We feel that it is unlikely that any substantial number of people will agree to such an arrangement in view of the telegraph offices which are now giving efficient round the clock service in every neighborhood and the smallest towns--which charge only for actual messages according to length. 7. In conclusion, the committee feels that it must advise against any investment whatever in Bell's scheme. We do not doubt that it will find a few users in special circumstances such as between the bridge of a ship and the engine rooms, but any development of the kind and scale which Bell so fondly imagines is utterly out of the question. (Note: Origin unknown, but very plausible, as Western Union did indeed decide not to invest in telephones in the early 1900's. Richard Lane 4/26/85) -------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have comments or other information relating to such topics as this paper covers, please upload to KeelyNet or send to the Vangard Sciences address as listed on the first page. Thank you for your consideration, interest and support. Jerry W. Decker.........Ron Barker...........Chuck Henderson Vangard Sciences/KeelyNet -------------------------------------------------------------------- If we can be of service, you may contact Jerry at (214) 324-8741 or Ron at (214) 242-9346 --------------------------------------------------------------------