KEY TO NEW WORLD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12263, 26 May 1934, Page 7

KEY TO NEW WORLD

MA RCONI ON Til E TH RESBOEP WONDERFUL PROPHECIES. -"World telopliono talks within reach of the man in the street, wireless belts around slops :i t sea, so that collisions "'ill bo made on impossibility; similar belts around travelling aircraft, everyday television from which all clanger of atmospheric distortion will be abolished, possible communication with otboi planets—these marvels are almost daily becoming more possible. For the iseoond time in his liie tnuchese Marconi, who is l:o visit Melbourne for ifho Centenary. as veritably standing at the threshold of wonderland.

The first occasion was when, more than 30 years ago, he stood, a young Ii alian, whoso . mime had been received by many scientists with shrugs, on the shores of Newlonudland, with- something like an ordinary telephone receiver at bis ear and apparently earnestly cm ployed in Hying a rather large kite. Attached to that kiic was the end ol a long steel wire. On Ibo Cornish const, 2000 miles away, stood another' man. preparing to send Iho letter “S” in the Morse code. Itosontly lbe three dots came clearly through, space to iho oars of . t'** 6 kite-fiver, 'ihiis was ihe miracle °i wireless burn.

.It was a miracle that: changed the world. The effect of this second miracle, will he as great. Marconi, 30 years older, is seeking to accomplish the miracle of utilising lotman's everyday purposes what are known a s - ultra-short waves. Tfc is not generally recognised that, there is no limit io tho possibilities <> r the. wonders in store if these ultrashort- waves can be' harnessed and controlled. Tho effect will he 10 ch ango everyday life a.s the civilised world to-day knows it. On board his famous yacht Eiooira, in his laboratories in 1 tii.lv, and elsewhere. Marconi has for a long tune been engaged in secret experiments, wonting steadily with all tho patience and uncanny imaginative effort that have combined to make him the master wizard of his age. These experiments, '. which have taken him far .along the road, arc to be continued 'in London, and it may be that the Empire's capital wi.i! see the birth of a now system of wireless, which will entirely rc v ohiiionise telephony and telegraphy, and brio? many other wonders. Tho harnessing of w h «t is known as micro-waves by Marconi has opened up a limitless and hitherto unused field of wireless energy. One result is the possibility of wireless communication that will, be entirely secret and entirely fro-> trout interference. Nothing will disturb the micro-wave, whereas longer waves, as ho lias pointed our, are subject to all manner of interference, noth from atmospheric conditions and from the use of the ether for other transmissions. Marconi has already discovered that micro-waves can travel much more than 100 miles, and that- they can not only penetrate walls and tic's. b»r- also can even pass through file centre, of a long-wave transmitting station without effect.

No scientist living; J s more competent to prophesy, yef there is not a. scientist who is io* s given to talk. However, no doubt can bo entertained that b© dreams of what the lnture, even the near future, holds, and of what- powers will be harnessed to servo the needs of mankind til© world over. “I live and. work in the present,” ho once declared. For alt that he has roves led that- sometimes lie envisages a world mu by wireless, and in this commotion it can be revealed that- he behoves that before very long great developments must come in the transmission ot power by wifeless and the transmission of pictures by ihe -same means. There have, of course, already been accomplishments i.«. both those spheres, but the developments Alarconi foreshadows would literally fling open the portals to a. new existence for man.

“Wireless is electricity,” Alarami has declared, “and I helmv© the next quarter of a. century will see developments in the wireless field fully as important. a s those which th© last Time u.ro words which, coming from such a .source, promise a \v«.\rld 01 wonders only limited by the, range vf one’s imagination.