| Type | Electrical communication |
| Purpose | Military • governmental |
| Inventor | |
| Invention | 1700s |
| Significance | Central in global conflicts • Key in expanding empires • Gradual transition to semaphore and radio communication |
| Design feature | Transmit images |
Electrical Telegraphs are means of communication using electricity. The early forms of electrical telegraph were invented in the 1700s. They were the first methods of instantly transmitting information over a long distance. In this alternate history, their invention and development progressed differently, leading to a very distinct timeline for this technology.
The electrical telegraph was the brainchild of Claude Chappe, a French inventor. Chappe began his experimentation with electricity and communications in the mid-1700s. In this timeline, Chappe discovered how to use electricity to transmit signals. By early 1710, Chappe had developed a working electrical telegraph that used wires to conduct electrical pulses.
From its inception in France, telegraph technology spread rapidly across Europe, driven by the intense interest generated by Chappe's early success and the potential strategic uses. Several other European countries, inspired by Chappe, made their own improvements to the design.
In this timeline, the primary purpose of the electrical telegraph was military and diplomatic communications. It quickly became an essential tool for military coordination over long distances, allowing leaders to relay orders and intelligence quickly and efficiently. This made the telegraph invaluable, and most nations invested considerable resources into improving their telegraph infrastructure.
One notable difference in this alternate history is that the electrical telegraph technology rapidly developed to transmit images, rather than just text. This innovation allowed for far richer information to be transmitted over the wires, including maps, photographs, and diagrams. Although initially developed for military use, this capability was soon adopted for civilian purposes as well.
The development of semaphore and, later, radio communications somewhat diminished the importance of the electrical telegraph. However, in this timeline, this transition was slower, with semaphore and radio remaining largely niche and specialized for many decades. As a result, the electrical telegraph remained relevant and widely used for far longer than in our reality.
The electrical telegraph in this alternate timeline has significantly different characteristics and played a crucial role in shaping history. It facilitated rapid communication across continents and oceans, shaping the outcomes of wars and diplomacy, and proving a critical link in the development of global empires and alliances.
