Telegraphy

Telegraphy is the art of remote writing, or the long distance transmission of written messages without physical transport of letters. This defintion generously includes fax, email, and computer networks in general.

The first telegraphs where optical, including the use of smoke signals and beacons, already in ancient times. The electrical telegraph was invented in the 1830s by Samuel Morse, who also developed the Morse code signalling alphabet, and quickly deployed in the following two decades. Nikola Tesla showed the usefulness of wireless telegraphy or radio.