Shows people’s efforts to transmit messages through devices that have been invented to improve communication. Demonstrates the effects of telecommunications on the social, cultural, and economic life of modern society. Uses animation and live action to trace the history of communication from the 17th century to the present, and explains how each of the highlighted devices functions. Experiments with the battery, ground connections, electromagnet, and cable are illustrated. Discusses the contributions of Volta, Watson and Henry to Morse’s development of the telegraph, Bell’s work on the telephone, Marconi’s discovery of wireless communications and De Forest’s contribution to radio with the vacuum tube. Describes modern inventions such as germanium transistors, teletypes, wirephoto machines and television. Explains the effect of modern communication on everyday life and on connecting remote parts of the world.