The Rise and Fall of the Visual Telegraph (2017)

https://parisianfields.com/2017/11/05/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-visual-telegraph/

37•geox•9mo ago

Comments

Rygian•9mo ago

For the discworld alternative, check the clacks [1].

ttoinou•9mo ago

It’s also fascinating this didn’t existed 300 years sooner (with more towers because of poorer telescopes). Communication of information across a kingdom is so important

anthk•9mo ago

Ah, so that's the origin of semáforo in Spanish, which the current meaning is "traffic light". And a semaphore on programming, too.

Rygian•9mo ago

The word "semáforo" literally means "carrier of meaning" from the Greek σῆμα (sêma) meaning 'signal' and ‒́foro meaning 'carrier'.

The visual telegraph is just one such instance of a "carrier of meaning".

anthk•9mo ago

Ah, well, like semantics... right. I didn't know about 'foro/phoro'.

>meaning

Could it mean 'symbol' too?

trhway•9mo ago

If i remember correctly the laser optical transmission tech started as a "laser visual telegraph" between 2 PARC buildings rooftops in the Stanford Research Park here.

ahazred8ta•9mo ago

There are many places called Telegraph Hill that used to be semaphore towers.

dredmorbius•9mo ago

That would include the one in San Francisco, with which some readers may be familiar.