EOTO #1 Reaction Post

Thanks to my classmates’ presentations, I learned about two fascinating technologies: email and television. Both of these inventions completely transformed the way we communicate but in very different ways. What stood out to me the most was how each one changed the world in its own time, laying the groundwork for how we connect today.

The email presentation was the last of the class period, and it really stuck with me. I use email every single day without thinking about where it came from, so it was eye-opening to learn that Ray Tomlinson sent the first real email in 1971, before the creation of the World Wide Web. He also introduced the “@” symbol to separate the user from the computer host—something we still use today in every email address.

One of the coolest facts Bernadette taught me was that the “@” symbol dates all the way back to medieval monks who used it as a symbol for translating from Latin to English. They would use it to substitute for the Latin word “ad,” which means “towards.”

What began as a way for scientists and computer engineers to send simple messages across machines is now something we rely on for school, work, and even shopping online. Email made communication fast, global, and efficient—and it paved the way for instant messaging and even social media.

What stood out to me most was how email evolved from a tool just for tech professionals and government use to something now essential in almost every part of modern life – work, school, personal relationships, and even marketing and business. It’s crazy to think how far we’ve come and how email paved the way for other digital communication like instant messaging, social media, and beyond.

The television presentation was another highlight. I was surprised to learn how long it took for TV to become mainstream. The first electronic televisions appeared in the 1930s, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that families gathered around them as a central part of home life. 

Television didn’t just change how we consumed entertainment; it influenced culture, politics, and even how news was delivered. It’s wild to think about how early TV broadcasts laid the foundation for today’s streaming services and 24/7 news cycles.

I enjoyed how, during Ryan’s presentation, we discussed how people have televisions in the most bizarre places, like bathrooms and kitchens. Since I personally don’t have a television in either of those rooms, that shows that I think the idea of televisions in untraditional places is silly. 

In the case of a television in the bathroom, as shown in the picture to the right, I would not be a fan. If I’m taking a hot, relaxing soak in my bathtub, I personally would not want to watch TV. I would light candles and read a novel. I don’t really know what the purpose of having them in rooms like this is, but to each their own, I guess. 

Both presentations helped me appreciate how these technologies, which I take for granted and didn’t think have been around as long as they have been, still influence the tools we use every day. Their impact is everywhere, from my HPU email inbox to my Netflix account on my “Smart TV.”