TELEGRAPHY OF THE FUTURE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8413, 12 January 1899, Page 4

TELEGRAPHY OF THE FUTURE.

MESSAGES WIRED IX RENDER'S OWN HANDWRITING. (London Daily Mail.) The ancient gibe concerning the old woman who declared a telegram could not be from her son because it was not in his own handwriting is on the eve of coming to a timely end. A telegram will soon lie delivered in the sender's ow v handw riling. The telautograph is to eileet this great change. The telautograph is not a newinvention. Four j'ears ago one was shown at a conversazione of tlie Royal Family, by which outlines, sketches, arid, of course, handwriting could be transmitted over the wires. Tlie outline was drawn by a stylographic pen on the transmitter, and on the receiver another stylographio pen automatically followed the movements of the first pen and reproduced tlie outline. To enable this to he done, four wires were necessary. This and other things precluded the telautograph becoming a commercial success. Professor Elisha Grey, an American, it is almost needless to say, was the inventor, and he set about improving his invention. This he has accomplished. Two wires only are now used, and it is anticipated that even before this year is out the telautograph will have become of the same service in the business ■world as the telephone. Mr W. H. Preece, in his inaugural address delivered before the Institution of Civil Engineers, said: — "The writing telegraph originating with our late member of council, E. A. Cowper, which reproduced actual handwriting, much improved by Elisha Gray, and called the telautograph, is steadily working its way into practical form, and electrical typewriting machines of simple and economical form are gradually replacing the A 15 C visual indicator. The introduction of the telephone is revolutionising the morlc of transacting business. There seems to be a distinct want of some instrument to record the fleeting words and figures of bargains and orders transmitted by telephone. Hence a supplement to the marvellous machine is needed. The telautograph and electrical typewriter will fill this want." For the idea is that the telautograph will be used in the same manner as tlie telephone now is. You ring up your man, but instead of speaking to him you write, and the words are instantly and exactly reproduced at the other end. Or again, in the course of a conversation over the telephone, you are asked to write down a certain word or sentence ; it's done as soon as asked. So will romance give a new charm to the telegraph wire. Edwin in London will be writing his impassioned vows to Angelina in Leeds, and she will be able to press her chaste lips to the beloved caligraphy as the words come hot from Edwin's pen a few hundred miles away.