Guglielmo Marconi and Radio - Steve Parker

Part of a series on science discoveries which looks at the implications of the discoveries today. This highly illustrated book explores the life of Marconi who from an early age had an obsessive interest in electricity. The book describes the development of his experimentations and theories until he developed the first wireless telegraphy equipment which sent Morse code over ever-increasing distances. He later established Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company which today is a giant multi-national company with interests in aerospace, defense, broadcasting, radio and satellite communications. His theories progressed from being being an experimental curiosity to being of extensive use on the sea, coastlines, for cross-Channel radio signals, and across the Atlantic. During 1903 radio links were being further established betweeen Denmark and Iceland, Russia and there were plans for a link between Australia and New Zealand.;In 1909 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics, but it was only in 1918 when Marconi began experiments on transmitting the human voice by radio. From 1924 he began work on beam radio systems which sent out focused beams of short-wave radio in one direction only, rather than in all directions, which resulted in further public acclaim and he was created a hereditary Marquis of Italy and awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Pius X1 by the Pope.;The book goes on to show the impact of invisible radio waves on the world in news gathering, radio broadcasting, military communications, television, hi-fi tuners, portable radios, car radios, space communications, radio astronomy, microphones and "bugs" used for surveillance, walkie-talkies, radio-controlled models and automatic opening garage doors.;At the back of the book there is a chart tabling the most notable developments in science, exploration, politics and art during Marconi's life from 1859-1936.