From the Gramophone to the iPod
This article has an interesting look at the history of the gramophone,
an early sound-reproducing machine and, of course, the device for
which the Grammy awards are named. The article also ties the history
of the gramophone and phonograph to the development of the iPod, and
draws some interesting parallels between sound machines, then and now.
How does a gramophone differ from a phonograph? Well, that gets kind
of murky: the terms haven't always referred to the same device, and
different terms were used in the U.S. and in England.
The gramophone, with its distinctive large horn, is immortalized in
the Grammy logo and the Grammy award itself. That horn was how sound
was reproduced from the disc (or cylinder); this was before the
invention of the loudspeaker, and specialized elements like woofers,
subwoofers, midrange speakers, tweeters, and such.
It's been a long technological leap from wax and foil cylinders to LP
records, cassette tapes (and 8-tracks!), CDs, and now iPods and
podcasts. What's amazing is how much has been achieved in such a
relatively brief amount of time.
Posted by Launchpad at 7:36 AM
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