The theory of wireless devices, 1906-1922
Résumé
My talk examined historical narratives of the early years of wireless communication (1906-1922), from the participant histories of the first decade of the twentieth century to our own time. I focus on the technical challenges facing wireless scientists and engineers, and on how these challenges, be they cognitive or material, shaped historical accounts. Drawing on sources in the Dibner Library and the Clark Radioana Collection, I sketch an outline of a new approach to early wireless, and discuss how it interferes with and complements received views.
